Claude Maxwell Ash, Class of 1953, passed away Wednesday, June 26. His widow is Joanne Davis Ash, Class of 1954.

Max retired from Sho-Me Power company as an electronics foreman. He played baseball for Monongah High.

Joanne was on the yearbook and newspaper staffs, in the band and in the minstrel at Monongah High.

Max’s brother, Frank Ash, Class of 1965, is a retired Consol coal miner who lives in Barrackville with wife Carol Ann Lake Ash.

Responding to my request for information and photos, Frank replied:

“Max was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. He was a radar technician. He was hired by Sho-Me power company as an electronics foreman.

“He and Joanne Davis Ash raised two children, Steve and Shellie. They have two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.”

The family photos in the montage were provided by Frank Ash.

Reva McDougal Ash, Class of 1950, of Marietta, Ohio, is not listed in the obituary. Reva’s husband is deceased.

Max’s obituary:

Claude "Max" Ash

Claude Maxwell Ash, Marshfield, was born in Webster County, West Virginia on July 8, 1935, to the late Claude and Marie Ash. He departed this life on June 26, 2019 at Cox Medical Center at the age of 83.

Max worked at Sho-Me Power for many years before retiring from there. He had served in the United States Air Force as a radar technician and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Marshfield.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his son Steve, and two brothers, Leon Ash and Ken Ash.

He is survived by his wife of 64 1/2 years-Joanne, daughter Shellie Jones, granddaughters Amanda Smith-Willcock and Crystal Robinson, great-grandchildren Asher and Averi Willcock and Isaac Klotz.

Also surviving Max are his brothers Ed (Carol) Ash of Shinnston, WV, Leona (William) Mello of Parkman, Ohio, Frank (Carol) Ash of Barrackville, WV, and sister-in-law Carol (Ken) Ash of Sandusky, Ohio. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 29, 2019 at First Baptist Church, Marshfield, with interment following in Marshfield Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-7 p.m., Friday, June 28, 2019 at Fraker Funeral Home, Inc.

Memorial contributions may be made to Convoy of Hope or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, and left in care of Fraker Funeral Home, P.O. Box 85, Marshfield, MO 65706.