Obituary of Maxwell Chapman Peel Jr.

Maxwell Chapman Peel Jr. was born June 13, 1929 in Whittier, California. He was the second of four sons born to Maxwell Chapman Peel Sr. and Leone Lavern (Doty) Peel. Max grew up in Whittier graduating from Whittier Union High School in 1947. He attended Fullerton Junior College where he received an Associates of Arts degree in Animal Husbandry. In 1949 Max moved to Buxton, Oregon where he operated the Midnight Mink Ranch until he was drafted into the United States Army in 1951, serving 2 years in the Anti Aircraft Artillery division. He returned to the Mink ranch in the spring of 1953 where he raised a small herd of Mink and worked in the woods logging and saw milling. In the fall of 1957, he skinned out the last of his Mink and went to work as a surveyor’s aid, logger and skinning Mink for some larger farms. In June of 1959, he began a 29 year career as a driver salesman for Consolidated Freightways in Portland, Oregon. On January 7, 1961 Max met the love of his life, Nila Johnson. Max and Nila were set up by mutual friends and in Max’s own words the “love bug bit” and they were married May 6, 1961. Max and Nila welcomed their daughter Jennifer in December of 1962 and completed the family with the birth of Susan in April of 1964. In September of 1964, the family discovered Hosmer Lake and thus began a lifelong adventure. The family spent as much time as possible at the lake averaging 30 days each summer. In June of 1988, Max retired and he and Nila became campground hosts at Hosmer Lake and continued in that role through the summer of 2015. Throughout the 50 plus year adventure, they met countless friends who quickly became family. Max faithfully served as an ordained minister in the role of teacher for the Community of Christ Church for nearly 50 years. He touched many lives in his role as a minister and in his role as a camp host. His strong faith and friendly outgoing personality invited so many amazing people into our family’s lives; it is truly one of our greatest blessings. Max joined his love, Nila, in heaven on May 14, 2022. He passed peacefully in his sleep with his family at his side. He was preceded in death by his wife Nila, his parents Maxwell and Leone, parents-in-law Raymond and Harriette Gresham, his brothers, Robert, Donald and William Peel, brother -in - law Cal Sage, sister- in-law Helen Peel, niece Penny Peel and his many four legged family members. Most recently, his faithful dog Emma. Max is survived by his daughters and their spouses Jennifer Peel (Joni) of Madras, OR. Susan Anderson (Tom) of Sandy, OR. Grandsons and spouses Matthew Anderson (Jen) of Davenport, FL. Paul Anderson (Heather) of Gresham, OR. His precious great grandchildren: Malia, Makayla, and Maxwell Anderson of Davenport FL. Hunter and Willow Anderson of Gresham, OR. Brother -in-law and sister-in-law Ed and Sharon Gresham, sisters-in-law Della Sage, Sharron Peel and Ann Peel, many nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many friends. Max’s celebration of life will be held on July 10, 2022 at 2pm at Community of Christ Church 4837 NE Couch St. Portland, OR 97213.