Maxwell James Taborn

Maxwell James Taborn is the one, and only, son of William I. Taborn, Jr. and Bonnie O. Taborn. "Max", as we refer to him, is a gorgeous, precocious, gracious, kind, intelligent, and welcoming man. And, while there are further superlatives that describe him, he was persistent.

When Max was born the nurses in the nursery of Toledo Hospital believed he was a girl because he was "so pretty". Be that as it may Max was all boy.
During the first year of school, kindergarten, Max was working on a home art project. Being "responsible parents" we had safety scissors for Max to use on his schoolwork. Being Max, Max asked why he was given safety scissors and why the scissors were called "safety scissors"? The answer to the question was that the scissors were designed for cutting paper but, not people. "You wouldn't want to cut off your finger, would you?" I asked. Less than two tenths of a second later Max had placed his finger in the scissors and was squeezing as hard as he could.

One day, as Max and I were going to the playground to play, we encountered a woman pushing a wheelchair with a boy in it. Max looked at the boy and asked the boy what was wrong with his legs. As the woman tried to explain to five - year old Max what was wrong with the young boy's legs Max just said "okay, sorry about your legs but, would you like to play sometime?" I'm fairly certain the boy was appreciative but being a good bit older than Max we didn't make plans and never saw him again. Max remained enthusiastic and hopeful that one day they could play.

In Max's eleventh summer the family took a trip to Philadelphia. As we were out seeing the sights of the city, we encountered someone sitting on the sidewalk. This person would not look up. He just had an old paper coffee cup on the ground hoping for change. Max asked if we could give him some money and we did. Later we saw the man again and Max asked if we could get him something to eat and we did. Max stopped us one last time, as the thought occurred to him, "can we give him a Bible?", and we did.

In preschool, at a time when Max was just learning how letters make sounds, he was riding with his mother in the car. As they drove by a B.P. gas station Max quipped; "I know what B.P. stands for. It stands for Better Prices! As if that were not enough, not long after on another car ride I was attempting to explain to Max how two letters working together could sound. "For example, the two letters p and h together make the f sound. Max immediately, in a manner that showed his acute understanding of language, said "you mean like 'phenomenon'?" Yes, Son, I guess like phenomenon.

As a young adult, with his first apartment having been recently rented, we asked if he would like to go to dinner with us. Max said, "sure can Justice come?" Of course, Justice came with us to dinner. During dinner Justice wanted us to know how much he appreciated Max taking him in, now that he was homeless. I later found out that Max never asked Justice for any money, and in fact gave Justice some money.

Max began his study of music at the age of twelve. He was going to release an album. He studied for four years. It just so happened the spring before he met and shadowed a band that had a recording contract. As things go one of the bandmembers had a recording studio in his home and offered to record Max and his bandmates for a flat fee. So, at sixteen, Max recorded an EP.

Max is survived by his parents, was preceded in death by his grandparents, James E. and Barbara Jean McCullough and his beloved dog, Homer. Max is survived by his grandparents William I., Sr. and Marlene J. Taborn, his aunts and uncles; Richard and Sandra Kulis, Teresa McCullough, James E, Jr. and Julie McCullough, Deborah Anderson, Scott Taborn, Richard Taborn, numerous cousins, his loving girlfriend Shannon Schimizzi, and the dogs; Rusty and Alfie.

We'll see you soon, Son.

The Taborn Family will receive guests Sunday from 4-7:00 p.m. at Newcomer Southwest Chapel, 4752 Heatherdowns Blvd. (419-381-1900). Funeral Services will begin Monday at 11:00 a.m. at garden Park Christian Church, 8605 Salisbury Rd., Monclova, Ohio. Interment will follow at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Providence, Ohio.

Because Max cared deeply for others and wanted to make this world a better place, in lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in his name to Gideon International: Attention Processing Center P.O. Box 97251 Washington, DC 20090-7251, Garden Park Christian Church, 8605 Salisbury Rd. Monclova, OH 43542, The Toledo Area Humane Society, 827 Illinois Ave. Maumee, OH 43537 or Little Kids Rock.

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