Maxwell Bryant Stout

Maxwell (Max) Bryant Stout, 82, died at his home in Austin Texas, in the presence and love of his family, on Sunday, February 5, 2023. Max was born in Tyler TX on August 6, 1940, the second of three sons born to Ivan Maxwell Stout and Cornelia Coltharp Stout. About one week after Max’s birth, his parents bid farewell to Cornelia’s sister and brother-in-law (the physician in Tyler who had provided medical care to Max’s mom), thanked them for their hospitality, carefully put Max and his older brother in the car, and drove home to Austin, the city in which Max would reside the rest of his life.

Max’s early years were spent in South Austin, where he attended and graduated from Travis Heights Elementary School, Fulmore Junior High, and Wm. B. Travis High School – class of 1958. His education continued at The University of Texas where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics in January 1963, and his Doctorate of Jurisprudence from the UT School of Law in January 1966. Shortly after graduation, he was admitted to the Texas Bar and began his career as an Attorney and Counselor at Law. Over the next 50 years of his life, he was a solo practitioner of law and did litigation work in many courtrooms throughout Central Texas.

Max loved his family; travel –both domestic and international; camping and climbing with his young children in the Rocky Mountains – often carrying one on his back; coaching soccer for his son; family holiday gatherings; progressive democrats; grandchildren; driving his RV to Alaska, Eastern Canada, Key West, and many other destinations; opera, especially watching live Saturday afternoon performances of the New York Metropolitan Opera on the big screen at the Arbor Theater; volunteering with church friends at People’s Community Clinic; and supporting the social justice work undertaken by members of First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin.

Max is survived by his wife of 34 years, Nancy Dawson Dittmar; his four children, Angela Kennedy (Ed) of Meadow Lakes TX, Katrina Johnson of Santa Fe NM, Amy Stout of Oil City PA, and Ivan Stout (Chiaki) of Austin TX; six grandchildren, Shelbie Loomis of Portland OR, Daniel Bassett (Evelyn) of Austin TX, Kathleen Bassett of Denver CO, Elizabeth Stout of London UK, Dorman Johnson of Santa Fe NM, and Noah Stout of Austin TX; his older brother, John Stout (Joan) of Denver CO; three step-children, Brian Dittmar of Austin TX, Ronald Dittmar (Christy) of Austin TX, and Karen Painter (Steve) of Bedford TX; and six step-grandchildren, Tyler Dittmar, Audrey Dittmar, Dawson Dittmar and Josephine Dittmar, all of Austin TX, and Scott Painter and Blake Painter of Bedford TX; and a number of cousins, nieces, and nephews. Max was preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother, Lynn Coltharp Stout.

A celebration of Max’s life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, 4700 Grover Avenue, Austin TX 78756, with reception to follow in the fellowship hall of the church.

Donations in memory of Max may be made to First Unitarian Universalist Church of Austin, 4700 Grover AV, Austin, TX 78756; People’s Community Clinic, c/o Development Office, 1101 Camino La Costa, Austin TX 78752; Hospice Austin, 4107 Spicewood Springs RD, Austin TX 78759; or a charity of your choice.