Max John Black May 11, 1939 ~ July 26, 2024

On July 26, 2024, our fun loving father and grandfather Max John Black was reunited with his sweetheart after a short separation. He was the fourth of seven children born May 11, 1939, in Blanding, UT to Marion and Verda Black.
He met his sweetheart Sandra Robson at a church dance and after a fun and exciting courtship they were married on May 12, 1959, in the Manti Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
They enjoyed 64 years of adventure together. They have five children: Karen (Doug) Whipple, Kory (Mandy) Black, Ked (Leslie) Black, Kolene (Tim) Bassett, and Kraig (Jenny) Black. They are blessed with 20 grandchildren, and 37 great-grandchildren.
At a young age Max learned the value of work and the joy and satisfaction that comes from a job done right. He often talked of taking the neighbors cows to pasture in the morning and then bringing them home at night.
He made sure that his kids had opportunities to learn the same lessons by teaching them to mow lawns, collect firewood for the winter, pick and bottle fruit at harvest time, and to plant and weed the garden.
Mom said that Dad was a good housekeeper and was always helpful around the house. Something that he learned from his mother.
Max loved serving his community and spent many years serving as part of the San Juan County Search and Rescue (Jeep Patrol), as a volunteer fireman and as an EMT on the ambulance crew. He made many lifelong friends and loved to share stories of his adventures.
He loved the outdoors and that is where he and Mom spent much of their free time along with their children, family and friends.
They were often found jeeping in Canyonlands, hiking in Butler Wash, camping on the Elk Mountain or exploring Dry Valley. He shared his love of the outdoors and the skills that he learned with many people over the years.
Dad loved to laugh and to make others laugh and smile also. He had a fun sense of humor and enjoyed the occasional practical joke, even when it was played on him.
He had his share of challenges in life, but through determination and faith he overcame and found ways to make things work out. That example and the wisdom that he shared with his family will live on through generations.
Wanting to raise their children in a place where they could enjoy the outdoors and be close to family and friends, he worked many different jobs and did whatever it took and to make this happen.
He loved to cook in the outdoors and his dutch oven cooking was amazing. Gathering for a family cookout on the mountain was a family favorite and Max’s dutch oven masterpieces made it all that more enjoyable.
His ultimate happiness came in playing, teasing, tickling and spending time with his grandchildren and sharing his love for the outdoors with them. He spent many hours pushing the kids on the swings and wrestling with them. We will miss his laugh and the twinkle in his eye.
A visitation will be held at the North LDS Chapel in Monticello, 347 North 200 West, on Friday, August 2 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Funeral services will follow at noon. Interment will be at Monticello Cemetery.