Kelman Maxwell "Max" Giffin, Jr..
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3C - June 20, 2021
Kelman Maxwell
“Max” Giffin, Jr.
January 30, 1935 - April 15, 2021
Max passed in Mesa, AZ. He
grew up in Grand Junction, CO,
with parents, Kelman Maxwell
Giffin, Sr. and Doris Irene
Heffner Giffin.
While stationed in Alaska,
he met his first wife, Leah, via
pen pal correspondence. They
moved to Denver, CO, and had
two children before divorcing.
Max worked for Denver Burglar Alarm while attending college.
Upon graduation he worked many years for Frontier Airlines, while
enjoying the perks of traveling.
He converted to Catholicism as a result of his second marriage to
Nancy Beyer.
In the late 1970’s he moved third wife, Jan, and family to Coeur
d’Alene, ID, where he worked in the County Assessor’s Office
before becoming a self-employed real estate appraiser. During that
time, he also worked as a tax preparer and accepted a position as
Interim Director for Hospice of North Idaho.
Max enjoyed golfing, fishing, traveling, cooking and social
gatherings with friends and family. He belonged to many clubs and
civic organizations including The Knights of Columbus. For years
he served as an enthusiastic volunteer photographer and assistant
for his dear friend, Bart Templeman’s world-renowned Ironwood
Thrower Development Camp.
He remodeled, then sold his Coeur d’Alene home after divorcing
Jan, returning to CO to care for his parents. He reconnected with
Mary Rene Hull at a class reunion. While visiting her home in AZ, a
fortuitous car accident led to a prolonged stay, resulting in marriage.
Mary’s family affectionately joke that Max was kidnapped by her,
but it was clearly a mutually blessed encounter.
Max was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Darlene
Gardner, and brother-in-law, Arden Cheeseman.
He is survived by sister, Claudia, and her family; wife, Mary;
children and step-children, Rhea Giffin (Jim Mathey), Tim Giffin
(Nancy Hagen), Eric (Beverly) Royer, David (Patti Jo) Royer,
Bruce (Peggy) Royer, Curtis (DeeAnn) Royer, Nancy (Eric) Platt,
Julie Meeks, Dean Beyer, Steve Beyer, and Julie Beyer; numerous
grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and their
families, including Rhonda VanDruff and Gary Cheeseman.
Donations encouraged to Premier Hospice of AZ, and Hospice
of North Idaho.
A memorial is planned for a later date
