Walter Max Estep

Harrisville, UT – Walter Max Estep, 80, passed away October 7, 2011 at his home in Harrisville, UT. He was born February 20, 1931 in Plymouth, UT to Hyrum Steed and Eathel Luella Archibald Estep. He married Joan D. Tippets September 6, 1952 in Malad, ID.
As we were sitting there trying to decide what to put down on paper about Grandpa there are so many stories and memories to choose from. Anywhere from Grandpa and his friends tipping over outhouses with their horses in his younger years to him taking us to the train museum and dinosaur park. Its difficult to write and wrap up a persons life in a few short paragraphs. Especially when that person was as amazing and wonderful as our Dad and Grandpa. So, I guess we will just start with a little bit from the beginning:
Grandpa was born in Plymouth Utah on February 20, 1931. Aunt LaNae said In the spring we would move from Plymouth over to the farm. We didn't have close neighbors so we had to do our entertainment on our own. We would go play on the railroad tracks. We would also go down to the Malad river and play.
The bridge that went across the river had a large square hole in it. Max fell through that hole and Lloyd quickly jumped in and pulled Max out of the river. When we got back to the house mother found out and we got into trouble.
When we quit moving over to the farm. Max and my job was to herd the cows over to the river. While we were there we went into the old chicken coup which had a straw ceiling and looked up and there was a big snake hanging just above my head. We killed the snake and when we took the cows home we told dad about killing the snake and we got in trouble with dad. He told us to never kill a blow snake because they would eat the rodents keeping them from increasing their young.
Max was eleven or twelve when he lost his eye. Lloyd and Max was pounding on something with a chisel and a piece of steel came off the chisel and went into his eye. Mother and dad rushed him to Salt Lake to the eye doctor but they couldn't save his eye. Max seemed to handle this trial in his life really well. Max and our cousin George would let me and our cousin Ila come to Malad with them on Saturday nights. They would drop us off at the teenage center in Malad which now is the bowling alley. When they were ready to come home, they would pick us up to come home with them. Max was a great brother and did many things for me.
Grandma and Grandpa met on December 7, 1951. Odean Estep, Lauren John, and Grandpa had gone to pick up Dalaine Tippitts, Grandmas cousin, and they made Grandma go with them, They went "courtin" that day around Malad and then went to dinner at the wheel inn. In March Grandpa asked Grandma to marry him by asking if she could cook? Grandma said that she could make spread, but not meat. He then asked her if she would marry him and Grandma started laughing at him and then she said yes. They were married on September 6, 1952 in Malad at Mae Morris's house. Grandma says Grandpa and her would go dancing. He would do the twist and "the money in his pocket would be just a jingling", they would do the limbo, and the jitter bug. "We had fun, We always had fun", grandma says. One time he made her go hiking in the hills to go cut posts. Her mom says you go places with your husband. Grandma was pregnant and didn't want to go, but he made her. Maybe that is the secret to a 59 year marriage is always be together and do things together even if you don't want to go hiking when you are pregnant and the size of a house. After getting married they lived in Salt Lake for a short time, then they moved to Malad. Their first son Merlin was born there. They then moved to Oregan in about 1954. They lived there a few years and added Max Lucky and Vanessa to their family. In Oregan Grandpa was a logger and he loved his job. In 1957 Grandpa began working for sparrows and they moved to Roy and their family continued to grow. Cindy and Bobbie were born there. They lived on Roy for 15 years and then move to Harrisville in 1972. They have lived there since. Grandpa always had his pigs and cows. I think we all remember emptying our dinner plates into the slop bucket. Nothing went to waste and Grandpa spoiled his animals rotten. Especially the shop Renagade. After raising their kids Grandpa and Grandma have had 15 grandkids and 26 great grandkids which Grandpa loved to spoil as well. We all loved it! Grandpa worked, he worked hard, and hardly ever missed work. He worked everything from logging, to truck driving, repairing appliances, and in sales. He has the strongest work ethic then anyone we know and he made it known that his most important jobs were being a wonderful Dad and Grandpa. He always had time to do the little things for us. He was always the one you took your bike too when it needed to be fixed and he would keep them running all summer long.
Grandpa loved to go hunting and fishing and no matter what they would come up north every weekend to spend time with the family. He loved fishing at deep creek and all the grandkids would follow Grandpa to his fishing spot because he had the best fishing snacks.They would sleep in the back of the van up hunting because Grandma wouldn't sleep in the tent on the ground. One hunting trip many years ago, Gaylen, Max's son in law, remembers going hunting with Max. They went up Daniels Canyon above Heber. Gaylen's foot was hurting so they decided to take the easy side of the mountain for his sake and Max's. We climbed up the mountain but everything was fogged in so we waited around until it started to clear off. Gaylen seen a buck a couple hundred yards above them but Max could not see it so Gaylen shot it. The deer went down so Max went up to find it while Gaylen directed him to it. Max got about 30 feet from the deer when the deer got up and started coming down the hill towards Max. Max had to run and get out of the bucks way so he didn't get trampled. The buck finally fell back down and died. Gaylen and Max had a good laugh about it, but then the work begun packing the buck out. So much for taking the easy way.
He also enjoyed going to the fairs. He would walk through all of the booths and particularly loved the cooking booths and seeing whats new in cooking gadgets. At the fairs he would always make sure to let us ride the pony rides. Another memory we will lock in the storage of our hearts is Sunday breakfasts with Grandpa and Grandma. Because of Grandpa's traits and qualities he has raised a strong and very close family and has passed all of these qualities onto each one of us. We were taught to help each other out and be available to each other no matter what. There was always an open door policy at Grandpa and Grandmas house and that has passed to each one of our houses. He taught us to keep our door open to everyone. Grandpa never had a lot but he would give everything he had if you needed help. He was always there to help do yard work or put on a roof. Most of us have lived with Grandpa and Grandma at one time or another. You knew you were always welcome no matter what. You showed up with your clothes and him and grandma would make sure you had a roof over your head. The only rules that there were, was to not be in the bathroom on his bath nights and never ever touch the mail on the table! Our family is the caring and close family that it is because of what grandpa and grandma have taught us. We are all there for each other to lean on, to spend time with because of these morals and standards that have started with grandpa and grandma. Over the years he has taught us that holidays are important and should be spent with family and friends, and that is the most important thing in life. I think one of our favorite holidays is memorial day, that sounds weird, but because of grandma and grandpa we would all get together to decorate graves, hear the stories of our past loved ones, and all be together. We would go from the cemeteries in Salt Lake, to Plymouth, and then to Malad. Grandpa knew all the stories, who everyone was, and how they passed on. He knew every grave and where the were. Then afterwards we would all meet at Bobbie's and Gaylen's and have lunch and play Yahtzee. Oh the hours of Yahtzee that have been played in our family. Thanksgiving is another favorite holiday. Grandpa and Grandma would bring the best part...the pie. He always knew what everyone's favorites were and would make sure that everyone had their favorite to indulge in after the huge thanksgiving meal.
We always knew where to go to get a bowl of ice cream, a good laugh, the best hamburger and mashed potatoes and gravy you will ever eat in your life, and to feel safe and at home and thats Grandpa's and Grandma's house. If you wanted an unlimited supply of tootsie rolls, peanuts, and oreo cookies you went to "The Shop". Grandpa was strong all through his life even up to the very end he trooped through it all. It has been a very difficult last couple days since Grandpa's physical presence is no longer with us, but the memories of him we will forever treasure in our hearts.
Walter is loved and will be missed by his family Wife Joan, children: Max LeRoy Estep Sandra West, Vanessa Jim Bidlack and Bobbie Garrett Gaylen; son-in-law Gary Brees; Brother Norvel Estep Diane Foxley; Sisters: LaNae Estep, LaWana Estep Jim Burgess, Ila Rae Estep; 15 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Walter Merlin, Daughter Cindy Brees, Brother Hyrum Lloyd Estep Ruth Black, Sisters: Vaudis Estep Roy Harris and Brothers-in-law Ben Wakley and Grady Wilkes. Graveside Services will be held Tuesday, October 11, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. in the Plymouth Cemetery. Friends may call Tuesday from 11:00a.m. – 12:00 Noon at Rogers and Taylor Funeral Home, 111 North 100 East, Tremonton.