Max Slade

Max Barneigh Slade, beloved father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother, and friend, passed away on October 22, 2017. He was a long-time resident of Boise, Idaho. He was born in Kline, Colorado on February 2, 1934, to Don and Catherine Slade. Max attended school in Silverton, Colorado, where he left early to follow an older brother in the military for the Koren War. After serving three years in the Air Force he returned home to become a miner. He mined for nearly 20 years in the hard-rock and uranium mines of Colorado, Utah and New Mexico before joining the Mining Safety and Health Administration (MSHA). Max quickly moved up the ranks. becoming a frequent lecturer and expert witness on mining safety and radiation issues. In 1982 he transferred to Boise as Field Director for the western division of MSHA, where he served until his retirement in 1994. An avid outdoorsman, Max loved golf (which he played not always well, but always enthusiastically), gardening, hunting – both bow and rifle – and competed successfully at the national level with bows, rifles, and black-powder. He served as past-president of the Boise Gun Club, where he was a long-time and active member.

Max was a generous, kind and loving man with a wonderful sense of humor and a willingness to debate any issue, any time, with anyone, in the full confidence that he would win. He leaves behind a multitude of family and friends who will remember him with a smile. 

Max was preceded in death by two wives, Edith Louise and Leona Mae, seven siblings, one step-child, and his parents. He is survived by four children of his first marriage – Ronald Slade of Grand Junction, CO; Glen Slade of Georgetown, TX; Max Slade of Grand Junction, CO; and Ann Norris of Kearney, AZ – and seven step-children of Leona’s first marriage – Michael Boutte of Abbeville, LA; Lonnie Boutte of Galena, AK; Randall Boutte of Abbeville, LA; Donald Boutte of Abbeville, LA; ; Jeffrey Boutte of Boise, ID; Patricia Gilbert of Orrum, NC; and Patrick Boutte of Youngsville, LA – by one sister, Sherry Slade, of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, and by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.