Yesterday, I had the sad duty of attending the funeral of a great all-round guy and his wife. Kay and "Max" were great people. He was a great father and friend, they were both faithful at their Church, Sunset Forest Baptist Church where she was pianist/organist. Max was a railfan, the good kind, the fellow you didn't mind---even looked forward to seeing. For over 30 years, Max could be seen at trackside in Lowell, NC and other favorite spots----sometimes as late as 2 AM on a weekend awaiting Amtrak 819. I met Max when I first attempted to hire out to Southern. He used to bring his son, Marcus, with him out to where I was working when he was just a small boy. Always interested in trains, but always respectful and out of the way, he was the epitomy of what a railfan should be. I never thought of Max as a "foamer", but someone I could depend on if I needed something-railroad or otherwise. I didn't even consider him a railfan, but one of "US". Alas, Max had health problems that prevented him from gaining employment on the railroad, and if there has ever been someone who 'deserved' to have this dream that he always harbored since childhood, it was Max. But his son carries on that tradition as an employee of CSX, of which I know Max and Kay were proud.
I hadn't seen Max in a long time: I was hired to Southern in the 70's, he was not. I got married, had a daughter, had work in other places (everyone knows how the Extra Board is!), and we kinda drifted apart. He was a fan, I was not, and I never "hung out" trackside; my interest was more professional than hobby. I knew Max was out there, and I used to see him when I "deadheaded" on the engines, and we would "give him a shout" on the radio (Hello there, MAX, O-VAAAAAAH): We knew he'd be listening on his scanner. Most of the Piedmont crews knew Max.That spot near Lowell will be now empty.
On Tuesday of this week, Max apparently suffered a seizure and crashed into a tree, killing himself and Kay almost instantly. There were railroad men in attendance, one engineer (that I recognized) from Norfolk Southern serving as a pallbearer and NS and CSX employees there as well. You could judge the love Max and Kay had, and the friends who admired them, for the funeral procession stretched for almost a half mile! It took over 40 minutes for the procession to reach the cemetary, and people were along the road, hats in hand, one lady crying on a shoulder: THAT'S the kind of people Max and Kay were. How wonderful it must have been to have a Dad and Mom like that! Flower arrangements read, "From Norfolk Southern, Crew of 118" and "From CSX Railroad: Pinoca Yard" and others I didn't get to read. Again, he was absolutely "one of US".
When we arrived at Hillcrest Gardens, burial site, there was a tribute, tho I'm sure an accidental one. There was a CSX train in siding awaiting a meet right across the road, and I thought, "What a fine thing. Max would've loved this." Even the minister commented on the fact.
So now, Max. my friend, you've got a "green board". "Enter thou into the joys of The Lord forever". We will miss them!
GF
I hadn't seen Max in a long time: I was hired to Southern in the 70's, he was not. I got married, had a daughter, had work in other places (everyone knows how the Extra Board is!), and we kinda drifted apart. He was a fan, I was not, and I never "hung out" trackside; my interest was more professional than hobby. I knew Max was out there, and I used to see him when I "deadheaded" on the engines, and we would "give him a shout" on the radio (Hello there, MAX, O-VAAAAAAH): We knew he'd be listening on his scanner. Most of the Piedmont crews knew Max.That spot near Lowell will be now empty.
On Tuesday of this week, Max apparently suffered a seizure and crashed into a tree, killing himself and Kay almost instantly. There were railroad men in attendance, one engineer (that I recognized) from Norfolk Southern serving as a pallbearer and NS and CSX employees there as well. You could judge the love Max and Kay had, and the friends who admired them, for the funeral procession stretched for almost a half mile! It took over 40 minutes for the procession to reach the cemetary, and people were along the road, hats in hand, one lady crying on a shoulder: THAT'S the kind of people Max and Kay were. How wonderful it must have been to have a Dad and Mom like that! Flower arrangements read, "From Norfolk Southern, Crew of 118" and "From CSX Railroad: Pinoca Yard" and others I didn't get to read. Again, he was absolutely "one of US".
When we arrived at Hillcrest Gardens, burial site, there was a tribute, tho I'm sure an accidental one. There was a CSX train in siding awaiting a meet right across the road, and I thought, "What a fine thing. Max would've loved this." Even the minister commented on the fact.
So now, Max. my friend, you've got a "green board". "Enter thou into the joys of The Lord forever". We will miss them!
GF