Max Neville

Max T. Neville, 100, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, April 26, 2008, at the Lutheran Home.

He was born Dec. 18, 1907, in Sims, Ill., son of Emory and Elizabeth Finley Neville, the second youngest of nine children. He and Adella (Damron) Neville were married in 1934 in Cape Girardeau. She died Oct. 8, 1977.

Max served his country in the Red Cross during World War II. He was employed by Provident Life & Accident Insurance Co., retiring in 1972. His first job was that of a shoeshine boy at Kelly's Place in Mount Vernon, Ill., at age 8.

He was a former member of the All-Southeast Missouri High School football team, captain of Cape Girardeau Central High School basketball team and held the high school high-jump record for four years. He graduated from Central and attended Southeast Missouri State University. While at Southeast, he played football and as a freshman halfback caught the first kick-off at the brand new Houck Stadium in 1930. Later in years he was honored at a football game during half time for this feat.

He is survived by a daughter, Sally Jensen, husband Bert, of Inverness, Ill.; a son, Mike Neville, wife Marilyn, of Zalma, Mo.; four grandchildren, Susan, Andrew, Jeffrey and Kathryn; eight great-grandchildren, James, Abigail, Grace, Andrew, Caroline, Ryan, Natalie and Kelly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, four brothers and four sisters.

There will be no local visitation or funeral.

Memorial services will be held in St. Louis at a later date.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.