Earl Max Walker passed from this life to meet his Savior on June 24, 2020, with his family by his side. A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Earl was born on July 7, 1944, in Afton to Oral Max Walker and Iona Libby Kunz. He was born during WWII and was named after his uncle, Earl T. Walker, who was missing in action. Later in life he was assumed to be Earl T. Walker’s son since they came from the same family line.
Earl’s father and most of the family got rheumatic fever, which gave them bad hearts and early deaths. Earl’s father had his stroke at age 26 and was left paralyzed on his right side. He couldn’t speak. He lay for three months before coming out of it. He died, leaving Earl, age 9, the oldest of five children. When school let out, Earl’s mother hired someone to move their two-room house to Montpelier and set it on a corner of land which was his grandpa Jake Kunz’s.
Earl graduated high school in Montpelier the same year as his younger brother, Dennis. Earl had dropped out of school and joined the Air Force. After basic training he was released with an Honorable Medical Discharge. He came home and finished high school.
In 1964 he and his brother, Dennis, came back to Star Valley to work at the new Star Studs Sawmill. A few days later he met his future wife, Kathryn Anderson. They were married December 4, 1964. Together they shared 55 and 1/2 years. They have five children; 27 grandchildren; and five and a half great grandchildren; and many other family members.
Earl was a very giving man, always putting others needs before his own. He never closed his door to anyone in need. He helped raise three of his wife’s siblings: Tena, Shaun and Brett Leavitt. He loved and treated them as his own.
Earl is survived by his wife, Kathy; children: Rick (Mary) Walker; Lora (Don) Gibson; Bonnie (Todd) Smith; Johnny (Emily) Walker; and Ira (Susan) Walker; siblings: Dennis Walker; Jerry (Valene) Walker; Maxine (Frank) Davie; Michael (Arlette) Walker; and Nancy Hale.
Interment in the Auburn Cemetery.