Max Harsha

Max Harsha, 85, of Cliff, N.M., passed away Friday, March 16, 2018. A visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, March 24 at the Baxter Congregational United Church of Christ in Baxter. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. immediately following visitation, Pastor Melissa Sternhagen will officiate. Burial will follow at the Restland Cemetery in Baxter.

Max was born July 24, 1932, in Baxter, to Blaine and Edith (Munn) Harsha. As a young man Max’s grandfather Roy Harsha had a great influence on raising Max to be the man he became. Max attended school in Baxter and graduated with the class of 1950. After high school Max went to the University of Iowa where he earned his degree. Then Max joined the Army where he served in the Korean Conflict. While serving his country Max was awarded two purple hearts from the injuries he sustained. Once he returned home from the service he moved to Missouri a few years after marrying Marilyn Livengood. The couple had eight children and called Missouri their home.

In 1974, Marilyn passed away, Max later married Patricia Kramer and eventually Maria Payan. The places Max has lived are Baxter, Newton, Queen City, Mo., Livonia, Mo., the Grand Canyon area, Ariz., before spending the last 25 years or so in Cliff, N.M. He was a very active man who lived life to the fullest. Max started out selling tires for Montgomery Ward in Newton, and then transferred to the Kirksville, Mo., store. Max was a salesman for Windpower Generators in Newton. Eventually he ran the Mulemanharsha business making pack saddles, bits and other various items. He raised and trained mules to jump fences, raised long horn cattle, raised hunting dogs, trained horses, had numerous mule shows at his ranch in Queen City, Mo. Max was even featured in the National Geographic Magazine for his mule skills.

He was an avid hunter and hunted everything from mountain lions, to moose, and served as a judge for various contests including some in Canada. He was also an avid writer and besides writing two books — one being the Mule Skinner Bible, also wrote articles in some national magazines including National Full Cry Magazine, Western Horseman and Mules & More Magazine. Max also was a Grand Canyon tour guide and provided horses, mules and wagons for commercials in the New Mexico area. He also worked some on a movie set of “The Alamo” a few years back. He was a member of the Lions Club of America, American Coon Hunters Association, Boy Scouts of America leader, the American Mule Association and previous member of the Lancaster Baptist Church.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife, Maria Payan; brother, Mike (Carol) Harsha of Sherwood, Ariz.; sisters-in-law Marilyn Harsha of Baxter and Mary Lee Harsha of Kellogg; children, Deborah Schroer of Jefferson City, Mo., Rhonda Steen of Lancaster, Mo., Bonnie Mackerman of Newton, Kimberly (DeWayne) Dabney of Kaufman, Texas, Tamela Harsha of Enid, Okla., Justin Harsha of Grand Prairie, Texas, Travis (Marta) Harsha of Navarre, Fla., and Tracie (Bob) Johnson of Altoona; grandchildren, Cole (Melissa) Steen, Jessica (Matthew) Brewer, Tad Steen, Travis (Crystal) McLemore, Collin Johnson, Meredith (Patrick) Curry, Gina Conner, Aidan Harsha and Austin Harsha; great-grandchildren, Reagan and Jarrett Brewer, Jack and Irene Curry, William Carter Steen, Devin Murphy, Brooklyn, Brenden and Breanna McLemore; special friends, Lori Polanco of Gila, N.M., and Mark Roebuck of Comanche, Okla.; many nieces, nephews and close friends.

Max was preceded in death by his grandparents; parents; twin brother and sister who died at infancy; brothers, Jim, Gale and Billy Harsha.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.

Fredregill Funeral Home in Baxter has been entrusted with the care of Max and his family.