Walter Maxwell "Max" West II

WALTER MAXWELL “MAX” WEST, II completed his earthly journey and was called home by the Lord on Saturday, November 29, 2025. He died peacefully and prayerfully at the 100-acre farm in Yoakum, Texas where he had spent so much time over the past 42 years.

Max West was born on April 28, 1937, in Shreveport, Louisiana—they did not have hospitals where his parents lived in Waskom, Texas (then population ~1,500). Max was born to Walter Maxwell West and Martha Mildred (Brack) West. Max’s father (“Big Max”) was a professional baseball player turned brilliant field engineer for various oil companies. Max’s mother, affectionately known as “Squee” for reasons unknown to anyone other than Big Max, was Valedictorian of Marshall High School. Squee earned nine (9) college scholarships but chose instead to work in a lumber mill in East Texas. Max had Big Max’s mechanical aptitude and quick wit, Squee’s raw intelligence, and unmatched work ethic from both.

Max graduated from Reagan High School in 1955 where he met Barbara Sue Selman. Max and Barbara fell in love and were wed at the age of 18. According to Barbara, “Max was bigger than life. He was the President of everything in school.” Max attended the University of Texas at Austin where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. Upon graduation from UT Max worked for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington. Eventually Max and Barbara moved back to Houston where he embarked on a life-long journey of entrepreneurial ventures in the manufacturing and processing industries associated with petroleum and power plants, and paper mills.

While at UT Max and Barbara welcomed their first son, Jack Maxwell West. Jack was followed by Debra Sue (West) Myklebust while Max worked for Boeing in Seattle. Stephen Scott West came after Max and Barbara moved back to Houston, then came Darin Wade West. Max and Barbara divorced in 1972. Max later remarried and Pamela Rochelle West was born.

Max West championed a tremendous number of engineering, business and agricultural projects during his 88 years on earth, but his greatest successes realized later in life were his children and their children and their children.

Max was predeceased by his sister, Martha Baker and her husband, Willard, but is survived by their children, Greg Baker, Glynna Baker Oblenski and her husband Bert, and Clifton Baker. Max is survived by his younger sister, Myrna Fair, and her husband, Greg, and Myrna’s children Michele Fisher and Julie Collins. Max is survived by his oldest son, Jack Maxwell West. Max is survived by his oldest daughter, Debra Sue Myklebust and her husband Jeff, and their children Ogden Jeffrie “Trey” Myklebust, III, and his wife, Kelley, and their children Ryker, Truett, and Briggs; Heather Denae Hunt and her husband, Margus, and their children Liam, Haegen, and Hadleigh; Savannah Nicole Erzinger and her husband, Steve, and their children Elias, Nolan, and Anders; Trevor Maxwell Myklebust and his wife, Alexis, and their children Jovie and Owen Maxwell. Max is survived by his middle son, Stephen Scott West and his wife, KK, and their children Tiffany Marie Slataper and her husband, Matt, and their children Grayson and Kennedy; Maddison Mae West; Garret Wade West; and Gunner Wyatt West. Max is survived by his youngest son, Darin Wade West and his wife, Debra, Darin’s children, Brock Maxwell West; Vail James and her husband, Quintin, and their children Palmer, Haven and Shepherd; Eden West and her husband Jorge Guerrero and their children Emery and Easton; Tira West, and Debra’s daughter, Katie Carnoski. Max also is survived by his youngest daughter, Pam West Dore and her children, Dalton, Dylan (already in Heaven), Lexi, and Bouxdie.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Heights Funeral Home, located at 1317 Heights Boulevard, Houston, Texas, 77008. The service is scheduled for December 5, 2025, starting at 1:00 pm.