Max Sorenson

Our loving brother and son, Max Baird Sorenson, passed away on Monday, December 26, 2022, due to complications from injuries sustained playing basketball. He was born on December 9, 2005, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Scott Max Sorenson and Leslie Sarah Baird.

Max had an incredible work ethic and was very disciplined. His focus was evidenced by his achievements at school, on the basketball court, at church, and in his social activities. Even more important than those successes were his welcoming smile, kind eyes, curly locks, and loving personality, which made friendship with him easy and comfortable and was felt by everyone. Max had the rare experience of living in five different states during his life including Utah, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Texas, and Wyoming, and his network of friends, family, classmates, and teammates spans the country. The magnitude of his influence has been felt by the Sorenson family from the outpouring of love and support from people who knew Max and were loved and impacted by him.

Max was a Junior at Thunder Basin High School where as a smart, hard-working student he maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA. This year he was inducted into the National Honor Society, a rare achievement for a junior. He was so humble and unassuming about this achievement and forgot to mention the awards ceremony to his parents, who found out from a fellow parent who forwarded a video of Max to his parents so they could attend virtually. Recently Max’s English teacher sent a letter to his parents after taking his son to watch a basketball game where he expressed his gratitude for Max’s example. He said, “I just wanted to let you know what an amazing son you have! Max is a tremendous role model for all kids and I'm glad my son got to see him play and I look forward to watching many more games this season.” 

Max loved basketball and in particular he loved his teammates, coaches, and the chance to travel to various locations to play. He was a member of the varsity basketball team at Thunder Basin High School and looked forward to helping the Bolts to a repeat Wyoming state championship in 2023. He accrued quite the collection of jerseys from playing on teams from Pennsylvania, Texas, and Wyoming, most recently proudly wearing #3 for the Bolts. His love for basketball was matched only by his passion for other outdoor sports and activities like golf, wakesurfing and wakeboarding at the lake, cruising the side-by-side in the hills with his dad, and any excuse to hang out with all of his friends and cousins. He was an avid BYU fan and loved every opportunity to cheer for the Cougars.

Max loved his savior and the gospel of Jesus Christ. He attended early-morning seminary and served as the Bishop’s first assistant in his Gillette ward as well as other leadership positions in the church. He really loved attending the temple and serving others through his participation there with the youth. He had been preparing to go on a mission and follow the example of his sister, cousins, uncles, grandparents, and both his mom and dad.

Max loved his family. He was the perfect road trip companion, his mellow and accommodating personality was well-suited for a car full of his sisters and brother, accompanied by his playlist of country music songs. He was a good listener, which gave him the rare gift of providing empathy and understanding to everyone. He could always be found with his brother, Ben, shooting hoops or swinging clubs.  

Max is survived by his parents, Scott Max Sorenson and Leslie Baird Sorenson, his siblings, Annie Christine (19), who is currently serving a mission at the San Diego Mormon Battalion Site, Benjamin Herbert (14), a freshman at Thunder Basin High School, Beth Maxine (11), a sixth grader at Pronghorn Elementary, Caroline Marie (7), a second grader at Pronghorn Elementary, and his grandparents Max Sorenson and Karin Sorenson of Salt Lake City, UT, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

We find great comfort in knowing of his joyous reunion with his grandparents Dennis Ray Baird and Christine Jones Baird and other great grandparents and family preceding him in death.

Services will be on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., CAM-PLEX Heritage Center Theater, 1635 Reata Drive, Gillette, WY 82718, and will be live-streamed and made available for all to view. To watch the live stream and express condolences please visit www.gillettememorialchapel.com/obituaries/max-sorenson. Friends and family may call on Monday, January 2, 2023, from 6-8 p.m. at the Gillette LDS Chapel, 2903 Allen Ave, Gillette, Wyoming 82718, and Tuesday at the CAM-PLEX Heritage Center Theater from 12:30-1:30 p.m. prior to services.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Max Baird Sorenson Memorial Scholarship Fund via Venmo account: Leslie-Sorenson-1.  Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel 210 West 5^th Street, Gillette, WY 82716.