Malcolm L. Max Orr
Malcolm L. Max Orr, 99, died on Sunday, February 22, 2024.
Max was born in Henagar, Al. and spent his early life on a farm, building lifelong memories and strong work ethic. He graduated from Soddy Daisy High School in 1943. While there he played football and basketball and acted in numerous school plays. He was three year class president, a member of the Beta club, and received the DAR Award and American Legion Award.
Max served in the Army Air Corps during World War II achieving the rank of first Lieutenant First Class. He flew 29 combat missions as a navigator on a B-24 bomber in the Pacific Rim and was awarded the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.
He married his high school sweetheart, Bobby Keith, in 1946 and then entered the construction business as a carpenter, then a job supervisor, an estimator for several contractors and finally as CEO of B&C Inc. Drywall Contractors, retiring in 1991. During his career, he also taught carpentry apprentices at Kirkman vocational school for 13 years and construction supervisor courses at Chattanooga State for two years. He also served his president of the Chattanooga Contractors’ Association.
Max was elected to the first board of commissioners in Soddy Daisy and was the city’s first mayor. He served on the Soddy Daisy Planning Commission for 15 years and as chairman for 14 years. He also served his community as a past Lion’s Club president and as a charter member of a volunteer fire department in unincorporated Soddy. He was a member of Cross of Calvary Community Church serving as a Sunday school teacher for 20 years. He was also a founding member of Community Chapel Assemblies of God teaching Sunday school classes there for more than 20 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Estelle Ryan Orr and William W. Orr; sister June Carroll (Bill); brothers Fred Orr (Jodie), Bill Orr (Cassie), Herbert Orr (Lucille), Dr. Jack T. Orr (Annie) and Dr. Rex Orr (Betty).He is survived by his wife of 77 years, Bobbie Keith Orr, his daughter and son-in-law, Sherrill and James Card; and granddaughters Elizabeth and Katherine Card. He is also survived by nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly, and by cousins Carolyn, Connie, and Tom Howard.
The family will receive friends and loved ones from 5-7 p.m. at the funeral home on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Services will be in the funeral home chapel on Wednesday, Feb. 28, at 1 p.m. Burial will follow at Presbyterian Cemetery.
Condolences and memories can be shared at www.williamsonandsons.com.
Arrangements are by Williamson and Sons Funeral Home, 8852 Dayton Pike, Soddy Daisy, Tn. 37379.