Billy Max Schochler

Billy Max Schlocher was born on May 6, 1934 in Rusk, to Harman and Laura Henry Schochler. Max passed away Sept. 1, 2023 in Rusk. He attended Rusk public schools with the exception of third grade when he attended in Tyler & Jacksonville. Max participated in band where he played the saxophone which he had played since the third grade. He was a member of the A Cappella choir and Gleemen of RHS. He served as secretary of the Key Club. Max graduated as an honor student from Rusk High School May 23, 1952. He attended Lon Morris College, Jacksonville, TX, graduating on May 23, 1954. While at Lon Morris, he participated in theatrical productions, was on the yearbook staff, and was a member of the Rho Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. Max then attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas and received a BBA degree in Marketing on May 28, 1956. Max was an avid sports fan and season ticket holder for SMU football and Lon Morris basketball. Max also did post graduate work at Stephen F. Austin, Nacogdoches. Max was drafted into the U.S. Army on March 5, 1957, and served in the Signal Corps at Fort Hood, Texas. Max joined into the Rusk Rotary Club in June 1961 and served as president from July 1962 to July 1963. He continued to be a member of the Rotary Club for many years, serving as Director and Program Chairman. Max worked in the family business, Schochler Hardware, through the years. He went to work at Rusk State Hospital on January 5, 1981. In May 1987 he was named the RSH Mental Health Worker of the Year. It was mentioned that Max had not used any sick days since he began employment at RSH. He retired from RSH December 31, 1995. Max enjoyed bowling in his spare time and won many awards for his bowling skills. He enjoyed his weekend drives with his parents around Rusk and the surrounding areas. He also served as a director of the Jacksonville Bowling Association. Max enjoyed working in his yard which always contained many beautiful flowers. He was honored with the Yard of the Month by the Rusk Chamber of Commerce and Rusk Garden Club for July 2005. He grew daylilies and received awards through the years at the Texas Daylily Show held in the Tyler Rose Garden Center. He was interviewed in 2001 by Tumbleweed Smith about his daylilies. Max was a long-time member of Rusk First United Methodist Church where he participated in the choir. He also served on the board for the Norman Memorial Museum beginning in 2003. He was a Charter Member of the Rusk High School Alumni Association and honored his parents with a scholarship in their name in 2003. Max was preceded in death by his parents, Harmon and Laura Schochler, and grandparents, John B. and Allie Schochler and Charlie and Kate Henry. A memorial service will be held for Max at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 11, 2023 at First United Methodist Church, 255 Henderson Ave, Rusk, TX under the direction of Wallace-Thompson Funeral Home.

Billy Max Schochler

May 6, 1934 - September 1, 2023