Luther "Max" Maxwell Tawney

Luther Maxwell Tawney, 89, Gallipolis, died Thursday, March 20, 2003 at Holzer Senior Care Nursing Home, Bidwell, Ohio. He was a member and attended Grace United Methodist Church, Gallipolis, Ohio.

Max came to Gallipolis in 1916 with his family and moved to a farm on Chillicothe Road, now SR 588. He graduated from GAHS in 1933. After graduating, he went into the Photography business and worked at Watts Studio in 1933 at the corner of Court and Second. He then purchased the building from Mr. Watts. Max graduated from Winona School of Photography in 1935. He outgrew that building and rented the 424 building from the Masonic Lodge. In 1946, he purchased the building next door, Claude Wall's Jewelry Store at 422 Second, that holds Tawney's Jewelers and Studio today. He graduated from the Diamond School of Technology in 1952. Max had been in business for 70 years.

He was a member of the Ohio Photographers Association; Professional Photographers Association of America; Photographic Society of America, Ohio Retailer Jeweler Association and National Jewelers of America. He was a Life member of the Gallipolis Shrine Club; Ohio Valley Commandery 24 Knights Templer, Middleport; Charter Member of the Gallipolis Lion's Club (and was presented with the Melvin Jones Fellow Award in January 2003); Life Member of the Gallipolis Elks Lodge #107; held the Commission of Colonel of the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels; member of the Historical Society; Charter Member of the Gallipolis Boat Club; a Master Mason of Morning Dawn Lodge #7, Gallipolis, taking his 1st Degree in Masonery June 1935, 2nd Degree November 1935, Master Mason in 1936, and High Priest in 1961; member of the Grand Council Royal & Select Masons of Ohio, Past High Priest, Pomeroy Chapter #80; Aladdin Temple of Columbus, Ohio and the 100 Million dollar club for the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children.

Max opened the first Triple A Club in Gallipolis. Bill Sigler and Max arranged to buy the land in 1945 to start the Shrine Club in Gallipolis. Max and his son, David were a stringer for WSAZ from 1962 to 1972.

Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Bill, Earl, Robert, and Tiz; sisters, Addie Tawney, Alma Milhoan, Anna Summers, Artie Cart, Mary McCormick, and Ruby Jenkins.

He is survived by his wife Mabel McBride Tawney, who he married on member 8, 1940, at Grace Methodist Church. Also by three daughters, Betsy (Jack) Crank of Henderson, West Virginia; Becky (Alan) Scott, Nancy L. Tawney, and David M. Tawney, all of Gallipolis, Ohio; eight grandchildren: Tandy Flint, Tim Tawney, Julie Smith, Bill Crank, David Crank, Chris Tawney, James Scott, and Daniel Crank and eleven great-grandchildren.

Max loved to travel and has never met a stranger. He was fortunate enough to travel to 72 foreign countries and wrote a book about his travels.

Funeral services will be held 11 AM on Monday, March 24, 2003 at Grace United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Mound Hill Cemetery. Friends can visit from 4:00-7:00 PM Sunday, March 23, 2003 at McCoy-Moore Funeral Home, Wetherholt Chapel, Gallipolis, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:
Holzer Hospice
100 Jackson Pike
Gallipolis, Ohio 45631
or
Gallipolis Lions Club
PO Box 436
Gallipolis, Ohio
or
a charity of your choice.