Pike Township Family Stories
MAX AND KATHY CHOWN
Nichols, Iowa Centennial Book 1884-1984, page 332
By Kathy ChownMax D. Chown, son of Robert T. Chown and Doris L. Chown, and Kathy L. Harmon, daughter of Howard D. Harmon and Darlene L. Harmon, were united in marriage at the Methodist church in West Liberty.
Max graduated from Lone Tree High school and worked for his dad at Chown Appliances until he took over the business. He always had an instinct for business: he started by having a lawn mowing business. He had a used mower his Dad gave him and eventually he owned three hand mowers and one rider, had three other kids working for him and mowed 21 yards in Nichols and 14 yards at Lake Odessa, where his folks owned a cabin.
Max loves to hunt ducks and geese, mainly at Lake Odessa, and likes to fish for croppy at Mt. Ida, Arkansas. Many a tale has been told while sitting all day in a duck blind or floating on the lake waiting for the fish to bite. Max was in the Army Reserves for six years, is on the Nichols Volunteer Fire department and is a member of the Nichols Christian church.
Kathy graduated from West Liberty High school and has helped at Chown Appliance since her marriage to Max. She has had other part time jobs as well, bookkeeper with a gas company in West Liberty, at a dress shop in West Liberty, a coupon clearing house in Muscatine and is presently employed at the Cropmate company in Nichols.
Kathy is a charter member of the Apropos Junior Federated club of Nichols, a member of the Nichols Christian church and has served on the Nichols Day committee for about four years, continuing to help since it began in 1976. She was a Girl Scout leader for four years and a camp counselor for two years. She sings in the choir at church and has taught a Sunday school class.
Max and Kathy have two children, Tami Chown and Todd Chown.
Tami Chown attends West Liberty high school and is very active in sports. Earlier she was a Girl Scout and went to Girl Scout camp, receiving an honor as “Hobo Queen” at camp hobo day. She played summer softball since she was old enough, pitching for her team. She sang and performed with the Blue Sensations when she was in eighth grade.
Tami is a member of the Nichols Christian church and attends Sunday school there. She loves sports, clothes and boys – not necessarily in that order. She also loves to water ski and go boating. Right now [1984], Tami thinks that she wants to attend The University of Iowa when she graduates from high school.
Todd Chown also attends school in West Liberty, and he, too, loves sports. He also likes to sing and once had the lead in his school Christmas program as Santa, and he sang a solo. Todd has played summer ball since he was old enough and can hardly wait until he can play with a real team. Todd lies to duck hunt with his Dad and ride the snowmobiles, which he raced in West Liberty and received a first place trophy.
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