Ernest Raisor

Ernest “Max” Kenner Raisor from Provo, Utah, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday May 22, 2020.

Max was born to Ernest and Wendella Raisor on October 24, 1935. He grew up in Magna, Utah where he met his beloved eternal companion Myrna Harding. They were married and sealed together for time and all eternity in the Salt Lake City Temple on February 20, 1958 and were blessed with 62+ years of joyful marital bliss. They did everything together and constantly expressed their love and devotion to each other. She was the light of his life. He affectionately called her “Sam,” though nobody in the family including Myrna knows where this pet name came from.

Max grew up in Magna Utah and graduated from Cyprus High School. He had various jobs in his youth including working as a clerk at JC Penney, and as a finish carpenter for the Granite School District. Leveraging his skills from a high school drafting class he secured drafting and illustration jobs at the Hercules Powder Company, United Technology Center, IBM, and Christensen Diamond Products. Though he had great success and worked on noteworthy projects including the Titan III Missile program, in 1965 Max decided to go back to school hoping additional education would advance his career.

He earned BS and MS degrees from Brigham Young University. His degrees coupled with his talents in drawing and drafting opened new opportunities, and he spent the remainder of his career teaching at BYU in Technology Education and Mechanical Engineering where he achieved the rank of Full Professor. Max had a talent and a passion for teaching. Early on he taught manual engineering drafting. He later helped pioneer modern Computer Aided Design winning many awards and recognition for his work. He served as Chair for the Department of Engineering Technology and as Associate Dean for the College of Engineering and Technology but he always preferred to spend more time in the classroom with his students. He retired December 31, 2000. After more than 30 years of teaching Max and his family often run into his students all over the world who remember and revere his “Bear Stories.”

Max gave his life in service. Starting early in his life Max served in many leadership capacities for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. As a young missionary serving in South Australia 1955-1957 he served as a Branch President and as a counselor in the Mission Presidency. Max also served as a bishop in Milpitas California, Provo Utah, and in a Provo BYU ward. He also served as a counselor to multiple bishops, was a counselor in a BYU Stake Presidency, High Counselor, and a Branch President in the Provo Missionary Training Center. His favorite calling however was teaching Sunday School for many years.

In addition to his youth mission to Australia, Max had the blessing of serving alongside his dear wife Myrna in five additional senior missions from 2001-2009: Family and Church History - Church Archives, Counselors in the Family and Church History Mission 2003-2004, twice in the Nauvoo Mission 2004-2005 and 2005-2006, and service mission in the Utah County Transient Services Office 2008-2009.

He loved camping and fishing in the High Uintas. He spent many summers camping along the Mirror Lake highway with his family. He took them and many boy scout troops for week-long backpacking excursions into the primitive off-trail areas of the mountains teaching everyone the mastery of fly fishing and how to catch the big ones.

After nearly 30 years of marriage his wife Myrna relented and allowed Max to teach her how to ski. They skied together for the next 20 years resulting in many memorable family outings.

Later in life when health issues limited his activity he continued to serve by crocheting afghans, shawls, scarves, and baby blankets for countless members of his posterity and friends. They are true treasures that his family holds dear and through them continue to feel his love and warmth.

Though he died amidst the COVID-19 pandemic which brought him great concern, ultimately Max succumbed to the health issues he has been facing for many years.

Max is preceded in death by his parents; Ernest and Wendella; his sister Roberta Madsen, brother-in-law Wallace Beagley, mother-in-law Elva Harding/Maddy, father-in-law Harold Harding, brother-in-law Lyn Harding, brother-in-law Larry Tracy, sister-in-law Marilyn Tracy, son-in-law Brent Burton, and grandson-in-law Curtis Dickerson.

Max is survived by his wife, Myrna Harding Raisor, eight children; Loris (Jim) Blankenagel, Val Burton, Terri (Ron) Hayes, Marci (Richard) Best, Tom (Tina) Raisor, Nathan Raisor, Jeremy (Lisa) Raisor, Kathryn (Van) Linford; 34 grandchildren, and 44 great-grandchildren with more on the way including his first great-great-grandchild;  his two siblings Jay (Shirley) Raisor, and Jane Beagley; and 28 nieces and nephews.

His family fondly remembers his witty sayings, jokes around the dinner table, his brown jumpsuits for Saturday chores, and mostly his great wisdom and counsel. He studied the scriptures daily and poured from his heart his testimony and love for the Lord, encouraging his posterity to live the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Public Viewing (Social Distance Protocols) Tuesday, May 26, 2020, 6:00 - 8:00pm  Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints 715 South Utah Ave

Funeral services will be streamed online on Wednesday, May 27, 2020, 11:00am. Stream online at: https://youtu.be /fAxVPkwVBUQ

Interment at the Provo Cemetery