Max Roy Sears

MAX ROY SEARS, 88, of Little Rock, passed away on March 11, 2014. He was born Aug. 2, 1925 in Medford, Okla. Max proudly served as a Quartermaster on the Submarine, USS Pargo (SS 264) in WWII, where he received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star for valor. A child of the depression, Max bought and sold his first insurance agency and became one of the founders of Reserve National Life and Health in Oklahoma. This paved the way for an exciting life including: aerobatics in his plane, sky and scuba diving, motorcycle trips, boating, stock car racing, mountain climbing, water and snow skiing, quail hunting, fishing, bridge and world travel. A highlight of Max's life was an invitation on his 69th birthday to cruise beneath the polar ice cap on the Nuclear USS Pargo Submarine. Max, retired at 40, was then recruited to organize, develop and lead the Arkansas Insurance Rehabilitation and Liquidation Division. He served under five Governors and helped reform the insurance industry. His influence led to the development of nationwide insurance regulations used today. After insurance, Max entered a career in banking and retired as Senior Vice President of Worthen National Bank. One of Max's great joys was to live on Lake Hamilton and own a houseboat on Lake Ouachita where friends referred to him as "Mayor of HB Dock". Max was skilled at building and fixing anything. He spent endless time lending and teaching these skills to friends and family. Along with his parents, Nelda and Roy Sears, he was preceded in death by his brother, Jack Sears. He is survived by his children, Jimmy Sears, Lee Ann Stuart (Hunter), Jo Ella Sears-Harkins (Chris), and Jerry Sears; his grandchildren, Tara Miller (Steven), Jeremy Stuart (Katie) and Abbigail Harkins; and his great-grandchildren, Addison and Max Miller. Additionally, Max is survived by his sisters, Carole Schmidt (Bob), Shirley Stiger; and his "half-daughter", Lori Llewellyn. A celebration of Max's life is planned for a later date. Memorials may be made to: Arkansas Enterprise for the Developmentally Disabled, Inc., 105 E. Roosevelt, Little Rock 72206 or Submarine Force Library and Museum Assoc., Box 501 US Naval Submarine Base, Groton, Conn., 06349, www.ussnautilus.org. Arrangements by Little Rock Funeral Home, 8801 Knoedl Ct., (501)224-2200. Max's online guest book may be signed at www.littlerockfuneralhome.com.