Chester Max Byrum

Chester Max Byrum, of Baskett, Kentucky, left this earth to meet his mother, father and brother (Ralph B. Byrum) in heaven on Thursday March 15, 2012 at 1:40 AM, at Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson, Kentucky. He lived 81 remarkable years. He was born in Slaughters, Kentucky to Virginia Ilyene and Otho Henry Byrum on January 19, 1931. Max was the youngest of 3 sons. He was raised on the family farm in Slaughters. He married Dorothy Duncan Byrum of Mortons Gap whom he met when they worked at the A&P in Madisonville. As a young adult, he joined the US Army and was in the Korean War, serving his country. Upon his return home from Korea, Max was employed by the US Corp of Engineers and moved his family to Louisville, Kentucky. He later transferred to Lock #1 at Spottsville, Kentucky in 1963, which brought his family to the community of Baskett. He retired from Lock #1 in 1989. He was a member Hyland Baptist Church in Henderson, KY and the Elks Lodge 206 in Henderson, KY. He was an avid golfer and voracious reader. He loved his family, liked to joke and laugh, and found great joy in finding ways to serve others. He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife of 61 years, Dorothy Byrum of Henderson, three daughters, Vickie (David) Shemwell of Henderson. Debbie (Andy) Shoemaker of Sorgho, and Kim (Bill) Chappell of Nashville, TN; three grandchildren, Olivia Tucker Eager of Henderson, Benjamin David Shemwell (Liz) of Winchester, KY, and Emily Ilyene Shemwell of Henderson; and two great-grandchildren, Jacob Eager of Henderson and Maximo “Max” Shemwell of Winchester, KY; brother, W. H. Byrum of Slaughters, KY and several nieces and nephews. Services will be 3:00 PM Sunday March 18, 2012 at Tomblinson Funeral Home Henderson Chapel. Chaplain Sam Beeny will officiate. Visitation will be Saturday 5-8 PM and on Sunday 1:00 PM until service time. There will be a private family burial. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Western Kentucky Veterans Center in Hanson, KY, the American Red Cross, Alzheimer’s Association or Henderson Hyland Baptist Church Building Fund. A special “Thank You” goes to all of the staff at WKVC for the exceptional care and family support they provided for my husband and our father.