This is from Max's mom, Eldora:

I just wanted to say I loved you with all my heart. We had many talks together. I will truly miss that. You had a great sense of humor!
You were so smart, cute, great cook, great business head, great guitar player! You were just a great person to know.
Max really liked to try out new recipes. He would take a picture of the food and send it to me before they ate from it! I would tell him I was having salad and we would laugh! We kept in touch almost daily. Max was kind hearted and very loving.  I will miss you forever Max!
I know you are happy and in a loving place now! Way to young to leave us, but God has special plans for you!
Love you! Mom

This is from Tina, his older sister:

Max was such a creative person. I enjoyed listening to him play music and more recently the love of photography he shared with me.

Max left us too soon. I enjoyed spending time with the kind, compassionate, and creative man he was growing into, with so much love to share. He is missed dearly!

From Ashley, Max's girlfriend of 11 years.

Max Bailey is the love of my life, my best friend and soulmate and proud father to our bulldog "Wrinkles". He had immense love in his heart for life and the people who surrounded him and loved him. He was an enthusiast of droning, dressing up Wrinkles in bulldog attire, loved photography and standup comedy, podcasts and was a music connoisseur. He filled my heart with joy and was a master chef just like his mother. He was famous for his late-night creative snacks and for our talks and plans about life in general and our future together.  There is no kinder, more loving human being I have ever met in my entire life and I am grateful for the 11 years of love we shared. I will honor Max and his loving heart in every single action I take for the rest of my life and will cherish him forever.  I love you with all my heart Bubba!

From  Keith, Max's brother

Max,
My friend my Brother who I loved dearly and tried to take him under my wing as much as I could. He will be greatly missed with his infectious smile and his willingness to always be happy. Max was very smart, funny and kind and will never be forgotten!
I love you little bro!

My heart is still breaking from knowing my brother is no longer here. Whenever I would be upset or angry, Max was always there to lend an ear and listen to my problems. He may have not always agreed but would always try and calm me and understand where I was coming from, a quality I always appreciated.

This last February I was able to visit Las Vegas with my father and Max. The time we had was amazing and we couldn't wait to go back and experience it the next year.  However I am grateful for the amazing memories I have shared with him growing up, but knowing he wont be there for the biggest moments of my life like getting married or having a kid- knowing they will never know their amazing Uncle Max breaks my heart.

But I will feel comforted by the fact that I know in my heart that his memory will always live on and he is watching all those incredible events to come, from the heavens above.

- Stone Bailey (Brother)

Losing my brother was something I could've never planned for and simply could not picture. The news was heartbreaking but I'm comforted by the idea that he is at peace and watching over me. His laugh was contagious. His smile was bright. And his advice was so beyond perfect that nothing could ever replace the wisdom he would share with me.

Through all of my new ideas and opportunities, Max would always be cheering me on. Even when I swore the package of gum he got me for Christmas was magic, he went along with it and created the tradition of giving me gum for holidays and birthdays. That little bit of magic means so much to me and I can only imagine that he'll be the magic in my life now. Still supporting me and watching me grow.

I'm so incredibly lucky to have an abundance of memories I get to cherish for all of my years. Like going to his band's concert and eating a million fruit roll ups till I felt sick. Him driving the lawn mower, wheeling me along in the wagon behind. Or even the most recent memory of my birthday where I finally turned 21 and he was there to celebrate that monumental moment. We always shared a birthday as his was the day after mine. So while I was turning twenty one, he was turning thirty. Big milestones we got to share together.

I was so proud of my latest Christmas gift to Max. I bought him a sweatshirt and embroidered a design on it for him. He loved it and even sent me a photo of him wearing it. That photo I hold so dear to my heart. The idea that he loved something I made just for him.

With so many good moments to cherish I know his memory will forever live on in my heart. I'm going to miss him every single day. I am so thankful to have had Max as my older brother. I've always admired him and was always so proud. I love him so much and I know that I've got him as a guardian angel now.

- Jade Bailey (Sister)

Max was two years old when I first met him. I had only known his father Michael a couple of dates but he wanted me to meet Max- I could immediately see why. I will never forget that feeling of overwhelming love when I first saw Max in his adorable little overalls. It was just like the emotion I felt when both Stone and Jade were born years later. I knew in my heart that I was meant to be his stepmom. He sealed the deal for me. It has been an honor and I will be forever grateful to his mother Sam, who so willingly shared him with me.

Max has left me with so many precious moments together. I remember showing him off to my family and how they too instantly embraced him. He loved his extended family; grandma, grandpa, loving aunts and uncles, and so many cousins. Oh the fun we had each weekend!

When Max was going to be getting his first car he wanted a stick shift, so I took him out on the road to teach him as his dad didn't have the patience. We drove all over town, having a blast, and he learned how to work a clutch.

I also pushed Max to get his GED. He was so proud, as we all were of him.

He even excelled at our vacuum store which he worked at ever since he was a little boy, right alongside his father. Anyone that met him would go out of their way to tell us what a beautiful son we had.

Words cannot describe how broken my heart feels knowing that he's gone. I've always loved Max as my own. I was honored to be able to be a part of his story.

- Virginia Bailey (Step-Mother)

My heart is broken by the passing of my first child, Max Bailey. I feel so blessed and honored to be his father. We had a tight bond as he began working with me at the Vacuum store from a young age. He sold his first vacuum at eight years old, even those customers were overwhelmed by his charming personality and adorable smile. I was so fortunate to be able to work alongside him for over twenty years. Each day we'd joke about things going on in the news, had fun stories to tell, or just spoke about our shared love and passion for music.

When Max was in middle school he had a rock band with his friends. He was an incredible songwriter, singer, and guitarist. I could tell it was his passion and I supported him at every show. We got him tee shirts with the band name and even booked time in a studio to record their CD full of original music. I'm so blessed to still have that physical memory I can cherish forever. He was so talented and when he got older we were even in a band together. I get to say that I played music with my son and that is something I will forever be grateful for.

Earlier this year in February I was able to take Max and his younger brother Stone to Las Vegas for a vacuum convention. We got to spend time together listening to music, eating great food, and sight seeing.

I get to cherish all of these memories. The funny moments, the music, and the incredible years I got to have with my son.

I will miss him so much, every minute of my life. Knowing he is at peace is my only comfort.

- Michael Bailey (Father)