Max Embree

Max Embree

Max Edwin Embree of Palmer, Alaska died unexpectedly and went home to be with his Savior on October 26, 2022 at the age of 87.

Max was born in Bedford, Indiana on September 21, 1935. His life-long love for Alaska started in 1955-57 when he was stationed at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage (on loan from the Army as a welder). He was nineteen and a new Christian at the time and became active at Lake Spenard Baptist Church. He served faithfully there and brought other soldiers along with him where they were discipled and welcomed.

After his time in the army in 1959, he traveled on a gospel team in the midwestern states for a year with a large group of young Christian adults. They did visitation evangelism, children’s work, camp counseling and preaching. During this time he met Donna Melvin of Mankato, Minnesota who was part of the team. Afterwards they married and attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago graduating in 1964. Arriving in Alaska soon after, they pastored churches for the next seven years in Copper Center, Eagle, Knik, Anchorage, Seldovia and Mitchell, Indiana. For several years after that Max flew to places throughout the state teaching, preaching and bringing summer camps to kids in outlying villages. He loved the “bush” (places off the road system accessible only by plane) and the lifestyle of the people who lived there. Later he worked in the hangar at Alaska Airlines and more recently at Bass Pro in Anchorage doing maintenance. Whatever Max did, he spent his time looking for ways to be helpful to people and was a wonderful example of “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms”. (I Peter 4:10)

Max was preceded in death by his mother, Hilda (Embree) Stewart; stepfather, William “Sug” Stewart, and his older siblings, Merlin Embree and Mary Esther Ganz. He is survived by his wife, Donna; daughter, Juliann Tibbetts (Dan); Dan Embree (Mark Zubaty), and James Embree (Ella). He was very proud of them as well as his five grandchildren; Claire and Anna Tibbetts, Hannah, Max and Bronwyn Embree.

A Celebration of Life will take place at Lazy Mountain Bible Church in Palmer, Alaska on November 27, 2022 at 4pm. All are welcome. The service will be live streamed on the Lazy Mountain Bible Church YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/eTPBudzGWnY. For easy access to the church’s YouTube channel, go to lzymtn.com/sermons.

Anyone wishing to honor Max’s memory may send a gift to Pastor Dan Evans ℅ Stride Ministries, 15 Ensueno West, Irvine, CA. 92620. They provide community, mentoring, discipleship, and outreach to the military stationed at Hill Air Force Base north of Salt Lake City, Utah. Dan Evans has ties to his family here in Alaska and is personally known. (strideministries.org)