Max Spray, 88, of Taylor Ridge, passed away Sunday May 10, 2020 at Overlook Village, Moline.

Friends may express their sympathy at a drive through only visitation from 10 – 11 am Friday, May 15, 2020 at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 201 E. 4th Ave., Milan.  Due to public gathering restrictions you will be directed when you arrive, and you will not be permitted to exit or gather outside of your vehicle. Services will be private. Private burial will take place at Illinois City Cemetery. Memorials may be left to Two Rivers United Methodist Church, Rock Island, or a charity of your choice in memory of Max.

Max was one of ten children born in Hillsboro, Iowa to Max and Myrtle Spray, where he attended country schools and was known to his Spray family as 'Uncle Bud'. He served in the U.S. Army from 1952 -1954 before returning to attend the former Parsons Business College and Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant. Max married Sandra Powell in 1957 and moved to Rock Island in 1959, where he would start selling LP gas carburetion systems from their home.  In 1968, he built a building in Milan for his thriving business and opened M-S Sales and Service selling and servicing forklift trucks and building LP gas carburetion and conversion systems.

Max sold his business in 1985 and was able to enjoy many years of retirement with Sandy at his side. They spent time every winter in Sedona, Arizona, and traveled extensively around the United States by car visiting his many siblings, and their nieces, nephews and friends. He spent much of his early retirement watching his seven grandchildren grow up and attending their events and was most proud of all of their accomplishments. He loved to play Bridge in the Quad City area and was awarded Life Master bridge player by the ACBL.  Max would also tell you he was a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan, except for the one year his brother Tom got them tickets to go to the Cardinals World Series.

Survivors include his son and daughter in law, Mike and Lori Spray, Taylor Ridge; daughter and son in law, Lisa and Chris Gavin, Monmouth; grandchildren, Chelsea Spray, Chad Spray, Aaron (Brittany) Gavin, Patrick Gavin, Alex Gavin, Jacob Gavin, Madeline Gavin; great grandchildren, Celtin, Brady and Myla; He was preceded in death by his wife, Sandy and their son, Jeff, his parents and nine siblings.