John "Max"

Brawley Sr.

Our beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, friend and patriarch Max Brawley passed away on March 17 ^th , 2021, at the age of 85. Through his life, Max guided us with his world experience, sharp intellect and warmth. He was loved by a large family and many friends.

Max was born on September 20 ^th , 1935 on his family farm on Watery Branch, just outside Ellington, Missouri. Max is the son of Erman Brawley and Golda (Fitzgerald) Brawley, of Ellington, Missouri.

As a child, Max enjoyed spending time with his grandfather Frederick Brawley or "Pop" on the family farm, when he wasn't terrorizing his younger sister Patty. Max was a thoughtful, intelligent and adventurous child. He often spoke of his experiences attending Skyline, a one-room schoolhouse, in which his mother Golda was the teacher. As a teenager, Max enjoyed countless adventures with his dear friend W.C. "Bill" Wakefield and their jointly owned and maintained Model A Ford. Bill and Max remained lifelong friends.

From Watery Branch, Max attained admission to the Missouri School of Mines at Rolla, now known as the Missouri University of Science and Technology. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and completed Army ROTC in 1956. During that time, Max met his dear friend Gene O'Neal. They survived ROTC together and remained close until Gene's passing in 2014. Following ROTC, Max earned the rank of Captain in the Army Corps of Engineers.

Max went on to have an illustrious career, which began in 1956 at the Mobil Oil refinery in St Louis. He began as a process engineer and progressed to become the refinery night superintendent. In 1966, Max made the bold decision to move to Kuwait to work for Haldor Topsoe Chemical Engineers. Max worked on the construction, testing and commissioning of the Shuaiba Refinery in Kuwait and progressed to become the refinery manager in 1975. Max advanced through numerous positions focused on oil and gas and in 1986 he moved to London, England to work for Consolidated Contractors Company. As a managing director, Max was responsible for petroleum construction and oil and gas activities in the Middle East, concentrating on the Arabian Gulf, Yemen, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

Max loved to tell the stories of his many experiences abroad, including one story of an oil concession negotiation with a proud Taliban leader in Afghanistan. It was Max's birthday and Max requested the Taliban leader sing him "Happy Birthday". The leader was taken aback, but after some awkwardness, the tense situation turned to laughter and negotiations proceeded. This story is characteristic of Max's lifelong ability to use quick wit and humor to engage with anyone, from any background. Max traveled the world fearlessly, and successfully engaged with companies and governments of countries all over the world.

In 2006, after many years abroad, Max returned to the family farm he loved. Max devoted his efforts to caring for his family's land, which includes the century farm on which Max grew up.

Max's first children were David Frederick Brawley and Virginia Louise Brawley, born in 1959 and 1960, respectively, with his first wife, Joyce. David resides in Ellington, Missouri and is married to Sherry Brawley. David and Sherry lovingly cared for Max in his last years and gave him the gift of passing at home, a place he loved.

In the late 1970s, Max met his second wife Abida and adopted her daughter Shazia, who resides in London, England. They welcomed their first son, Chris Brawley, in 1980. Chris graduated from West Point and is currently the Commander of the 1 ^st Ranger Battalion, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Max was enormously proud of his son Chris for his accomplishments in combat and as an Army Officer.

Their second son, John Max Brawley Jr., was born in 1982. John graduated from Rice University and followed his father's footsteps into the oil industry and is now an executive and Chief Financial Officer of an oil company in Houston. Not only sharing his father's name, John shares his father's personality, as a carbon copy.

Max is preceded in death by his parents Erman and Golda Brawley; his daughter, Virginia Brawley; his sister, Patricia Molvar; and his dear friends Bill Wakefield and Gene O'Neal.

Max is survived by his three sons: David, Chris and John and their wives Sherry, Meghan and Mary; his daughter Shazia and her husband Jonathan; his twelve grandchildren: Michael and his wife Lacey; Sarah and her husband Adam; Matthew and his wife Lacey; Brawley and his wife Samantha; and Madison, Kameron, Kurran, Thomas, James, Aurora, Alexander and Laura; and his three great-grandchildren Gage, Kade and Hayes.

Max leaves his family and friends with the memory of his greatness, the sparkle of his witty intelligence, and the enduring warmth of his love.

Visitation: Thursday, March 25th, from 10 AM – 12 PM at McSpadden Funeral Home, Ellington, Missouri

Funeral to follow at 12 PM

Minister: Pastor Mark Bishop

Burial: Ellington Memorial Cemetery

Pallbearers: Chris Brawley, John Brawley, Matt Brawley, Michael Brawley, Travis Hills and Brawley Darbon

Honorary Pallbearers: David Brawley and Carl Hampton

In Lieu of Flowers: Donations can be made to the Ellington First Baptist Church

Arrangements by McSpadden Funeral Home, Ellington, Missouri