Max Edmund Williams, whose Tlingit name was K’wanee, was born in Yakutat, Alaska, on September 9, 1944, to Ned and Emma Williams. He passed away peacefully at home in Sitka on August 11, 2026, leaving behind a life filled with adventure, family, faith, and a deep love for his Tlingit culture.
Max left Yakutat as a young man and went on to live in Anchorage, Juneau, Sitka, and other parts of Alaska. He was always traveling, relocating, and finding his way into new adventures. Throughout his life, he worked in many different occupations, including logging, fishing, construction, and working as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant at Mt. Edgecumbe hospital. After many years of hard work, Max enjoyed a well-deserved retirement for the last 12 years.
Max loved fishing, hunting, and subsistence living. He enjoyed a good joke and could always bring laughter to those around him. His presence brought something special to every family gathering. He was bold and sometimes very forward, but beneath it all was a heart full of love.
Max always spoke of his children, Max, Samantha and James, and always wished them well. No matter where life took him, his children remained in his thoughts and in his heart.
Max cherished the time he spent with his family, in his later years with nieces, nephews, and his great-nieces and great-nephews.
Max was a member of New Life Apostolic Church and deeply loved the Lord. His faith was an important part of his life, and he was often the one leading prayer at family dinners. He loved visiting with family and friends and sharing stories about the old days. He especially loved speaking about his Tlingit culture and sharing the Tlingit language and names with those he loved.
Max will be remembered for his adventurous spirit, his humor, his strong personality, his faith, and, most of all, his love for family and his Tlingit heritage and the Lord.
Max is survived by his children, Samantha Williams–Gray and James. He was preceded in death by his son, Max Dick, as well as his siblings, Nathan Ned Williams, Nathalie Pat Williams DeAsis, Helen Dora Chapman and his cousin/brother Leonard David Williams Sr.
