Max Edward Harrington has fulfilled his life-long desire of joining the Heavenly Choir and giving his voice in song praising God for all eternity. Missing his earthly voice are his wife, Patricia Rankin Harrington, son Patrick David Harrington and his wife Elaine, their children Tyler and Ashlee, son Brian Edward Harrington, his wife Celeste, their children, Jacob, Nicole, Andrew, Michael, and Braden. Also, he is survived by his favorite nephews Del Wells, Jim Wells, and Bill Wells. His parents were Carl Franklin Harrington and Lera Emma Brock Harrington. His sister Carla Harrington Wells pre-deceased him.

Max was born in Lubbock Texas on April 12, 1939, and grew up in Anton, Texas. He graduated from Texas Tech University and was drafted into the Army soon after. After his military service, he studied data processing and worked in that field when computer technology was a room of machines driven by punched cards.

His avocation was golf. He began playing golf with his dad when he was 14 and cherished those shared outings and times with his dad. He loved the game, was very serious about it and was always working on his drives, irons, or putter. He even played golf the Friday before he died. The Masters Golf Tournament (his favorite) was on while he was in the hospital. Although he always wanted to, he never got to go to the Masters in person, but maybe this time he got to watch it from a heavenly “gallery”.

The most important things in Max’s life were God, Church, his family, and golf, in that order. Max spent his first 83 years as a faithful Methodist and was a regular choir member. Surprising his family two years ago, he announced that he wanted to join the Catholic Church. So, on April 16, 2022, he was confirmed and became an official member of the Catholic Church, joining his wife at Shrine of the True Cross in Dickinson and singing in the choir there.

Max was a solidly Christian man. Many years ago, someone gave him a “Pocket Cross”. He loved having it in his pocket and soon began buying some to give out. He gave them to receptionists, servers, workers, strangers, anyone really, always saying, as he put the cross in their hand, “Jesus loves you.”  In all the years he did this, only one person refused the cross, but Max assured him, “Jesus loves you too.” Many times, he would be recognized and told “You are the man that gave me this cross.”

He was kind and affirmed the dignity of every person in Christ. Last year the morning after emergency surgery that the surgeon did not expect him to survive, he was sitting up in the hospital bed, thanking the person who delivered his breakfast tray, the housekeeping crew mopping his room, and the nurse attending to him for their work and service to him.

Max joined the heavenly choir on April 12, 2024, his 85th birthday.

Well done good and faithful servant.

Friends and family will be welcomed to the Visitation at Crowder Funeral Home in Dickinson on Sunday, April 21, 2024 beginning at 4pm, with the Rosary beginning at 5:30pm.  The Funeral Mass will be celebrated Monday, April 22, 2024 at 10:30am at The Shrine of the True Cross Catholic Church in Dickinson.