Max LeRoy Steward

Max LeRoy Steward, 88 of Yakima, WA, passed away surrounded by his family on Friday January 25, 2013. Dad was born in Centropolis, KS, on December 1st, 1924 to Lester and Artie Steward. He graduated from Ottawa High School in 1943. Soon after that, dad made his way to Naches where he worked for his aunt and uncle in their orchard. That was when Dad found that being an orchardist is what he wanted to do with his life and bought 30 acres in Gleed to farm in 1946. While farming he met the neighboring farmer’s daughter Anita Cope. Max and Anita married Feb. 14, 1953 and they had 48 years together working the orchard until ALS took her from us in 2001.Dad had a few side jobs along the way, he sold Fuller Brush door to door and worked for his brother at Country Store TV repairing tv’s .

He was a Grange member for 66 years with Selah Heights Grange and was active in the Tri Pomona Grange and Washington State Grange. Dad was extremely proud to have a short article about him in the book “Tree Top, Creating a Fruit Revolution” for he promoted the start of Tree Top to other farmers and Grangers and was one of its 1st members. He was also active in the Central Washington Ag Museum. He loved family gatherings, playing pinochle, archery and spending time with friends.

Max is survived by his sister and brother, Lois Bemis Schaap & Bob (Candy) Foland; his children, Jill (Tim) Rodgers, Bruce Steward, Kim (Sunday) Steward, Pam (Bill) Gage and Vickie (Daryl) Winters; grandchildren: Justin (Alison) Steward, Brandon (Jennifer) Rodgers, April Rodgers, Kyle (Erica) Steward and Daryl J Winters; great grandchildren: Elijah Freisz and Bella Steward, Kaelee and Chase Rodgers; sisters-in-law, Vera (Willard) West and Audrey Biglen; brother-in-law, Vince Linse and numerous nephews, nieces and many friends.

Max was preceded in death by his wife Anita, parents Artie and Lester Steward and step father Ivan Foland.

Visitation will be held 4-8, Thursday Jan 31, 2013 at Keith and Keith Funeral Home. Graveside services will be 3:00 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1st at Terrace Heights Memorial Park Yakima, WA. To share a memory of Max, visit www.keithandkeith.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Dads name to the Central Washington Ag Museum 4508 Main St, Union Gap, WA 98903.

Thank you to Dr. Dan Doornick and his staff, Good Samaritan Health Center and Memorial Hospital Home Health.