Max Dorwin Dominick

Max D. Dominick, Stillwater, OK, died on December 7, 2010 at the age of 75 in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Max was born to Crawford Altus CA and Clemmie Arlie (Gardner) Dominick on April 15, 1935, the day after Black Sunday, in the two room house on the family land east of Hartshorne, OK. Max was a proud member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma on his mothers side and was descended from great grandparents, six generations ago, who had taken the Long Walk from their Mississippi homeland (Okla Hannalli Iksa) and arrived in Indian Territory in 1831. On his fathers side he was descended from German immigrants who were South Carolina Patriots in the Revolutionary War. Max grew up on the small ranch and roamed the hills hunting, fishing, riding horses and being a boy. He attended Linwood and Hartshorne schools. Max met a young woman named Mary Ellen Guest when he was 16. Mary lived in nearby Wilburton so he transferred to Wilburton High School for his senior year and became class president. He graduated from Wilburton HS and was part of the first generation of his family to attend college graduating from Eastern Junior College with an Associate Degree in engineering (1955). He married Mary on April 15, 1954 in McAlester, OK. Mary helped him get through college, which was a struggle. They were married 48 years when Mary died in 2002. They moved to Stillwater to attend Oklahoma A&M where he graduated with a BS in Agricultural Engineering in Jan. 1958. He then went to work full time for the Soil Conservation Service (SCS). Max was a second generation employee of SCS. Max made a difference in life by working as an Area Engineer in Muskogee and then moved to Wewoka as a Project Engineer constructing upstream flood control structures. He then was transferred to Sallisaw and was responsible for the construction of many structures that provide flood control and municipal water for towns in eastern Oklahoma, to this day. He was transferred to Okmulgee, in 1970, and was the project engineer for the eastern half of the state. He worked on the Okmulgee Creek clean-up and was the engineer on Dripping Springs Lake. In 1978, he became a Construction Engineer for the SCS State Office in Stillwater where he eventually had statewide responsibilities for upstream flood control construction. He worked on over 200 of the 2,100 structures in Oklahoma. Max lso served as a concrete instructor for over 12 years at the SCS Ft. Worth Technical Center. Max retired in 1990 with 35 years of public service and received many awards for his work throughout his distinguished career. Max was a 50+ year member of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers and a member of the Elks, SCSA and NARFE. Max enjoyed church activities and was very involved for many years with the Presbyterian Church. He was a very giving person and was often called upon by ministers when there was a financial need or needy family. Max gave freely and quietly of his time and money. Max was predeceased by wife Mary, sisters Willene Jackson, and Jacqueline Bauer. He is survived by a brother Donald Dominick, Arlington, TX; son M. Darrel Dominick and wife Gwyn, Stillwater ; son Don T. Dominick and wife Kathy, Stillwater. Maxs grandchildren are: Erin (Dominick) Anderson and husband Josh, Heiskell, TN; Becca, Nathan, Brenden, and Hayley Dominick, Stillwater; nieces and nephews. The family requests donations to the Stillwater Medical Foundation, Salvation Army or charity of your choice in lieu of flowers. Services are under the direction of Palmer Marler Funeral Home. The family will receive visitors at the funeral home on Thursday, 12-9-10 from 6:00 7:30 p.m. Services are scheduled for Friday, 12-10-10 at 1:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, Stillwater, OK with burial following at Sunset Memorial Gardens. Condolences and online guest book are available at http://www.pmcfh.com