Max Grandstaff, 81, died March 5, 2011 after a long illness at Christian Health Care Center East, Springfield, MO. Born in Missouri, Max moved with his family to Oklahoma for a few years before returning to Springfield at age 14 to live across the street from his future wife and soul mate, Mary Stone. Max retired from his 30 year career teaching art in the Springfield Public Schools about 25 years ago and pursued his passion for woodcarving in a small family business. He carved Santas; American Santas and European Belsnickles. The original carvings were sent for reproduction at a casting company and sold locally, in Branson at Big Cedar Lodge and as far away as Iceland. He shared his farm with his wife, Mary, daughter, Lisa and her family, a herd of beautiful Arabian horses, many dogs and cats and all the wildlife in the area. He is survived by his daughter, Lisa Grandstaff Clemensen, her husband Lynn Clemensen and their two children, Megan, 26 and Cory, 22. Megan is teaching in Japan, and Cory is pursuing his own art career this fall at the Kansas City Art Institute. Memorial Services will be held on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 3:00 p.m. in the chapel of King's Way United Methodist Church after cremation at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home. Flowers may be delivered to the church.