Max Laurence Hymas, 42, passed away Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004, at Northwestern University Hospital in Evanston, Ill., from an extended illness. He was born Dec. 10, 1962, in Montpelier, Idaho, to Glen M. and Helen Evans Hymas. Max was raised on the family farm south of Montpelier, and graduated from Bear Lake High School in 1981. Max was active in school activities, 4-H and earned the Eagle Scout Award. He graduated from Idaho State University in 1990, with a master's degree in nuclear engineering, and then worked for Siemens Nuclear in Richland, Wash., before being transferred to Chicago. 

In 2000 he graduated from John Marshall Law School in Chicago with a juris doctorate degree, and then worked as an attorney specializing in intellectual property.

Max is survived by his companion, Louise Goodwin, of Evanston, Ill.; his mother, Helen Hymas, of Henderson, Nev., three sisters, Shannon (LaDee) Bagley of Las Vegas, Winnifred (Ray) Legault and Nancy Hymas Cinciarelli of Henderson, Nev.; two brothers, Greg (Kaye) Hymas of Henderson, Nev., and James (Elda) Hymas of Spartanburg, S.C. Max is also survived by the following nieces and nephews, James Bagley, Lisa Montgomery, Lane and Lance Hymas, Hailey Hymas, Brent, Stephen, and Adrienne Legault, and Amber Rickard. He was preceded in death by his father, Glen, a niece, Nicole Bagley, and a nephew, Troy Bagley. 

Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.

Funeral services will be Friday, Dec. 17, at 11 a.m., at Matthews Mortuary, 702 Clay St. Friends may visit with family at Matthews Mortuary on Thursday evening, Dec. 16, from 7 to 8:30 p.m., and on Friday at the funeral home from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. Burial will be in the Montpelier Cemetery.