Harry Weaver

To be remembered as the best dad a kid could have is quite an honor. Harry O. “Bud” Weaver has this honor, for his children knew they could depend on him to lift their spirits when they were down and always find the good in a bad situation. Bud loved his family and instilled a strong work ethic in his children. He lived by the phrase “ Finish what you start”. From his humble beginnings in 1926 to his death on May 31, 2004, Bud Weaver truly finished what he started.

Our way of life was changing in 1926. The population of the United States had reached over 100 million. The annual salary if you were a teacher was $970 - $1,236, and gangland crime was making the news. However, living in Ferry Township in Oceana County, Nora (Croft) Weaver had other things on her mind. Pregnant with her 5th child, her husband recently passed away, her concerns were for her family. On July 14, her youngest child, Harry was born, much to the delight of his 3 older sisters, Mary, Leah and Vietta. However, Harry's birth was not recorded until August 14th. He had been born at home and his mother had to wait until she was going into town to register the birth. Henceforth, his birthday was always celebrated in August. In fact, Harry had just recently found out that July 14 was his real birth date.

Harry's mother married again, a good man named Alex Toner, and this was the father that young Harry knew and loved. As a young child, Harry had wanted a red wagon, and his father, Alex, made one just for him. This little wagon and the love behind it was always very special to Harry. Young Harry, or Bud as he was called, was raised pretty much by his sisters. His mother was older and it was easier for the young girls to watch after him.

One winter day, Bud’s dad asked him to shovel the drive to make it easier for the horses to pull the sleigh, their primary means of transportation. This Bud did, and as he headed back toward the house, the wind came up and caught the shovel, ramming it into a window of the house. His mother was very angry and his dad, knowing how angry she was, shouted, “Run, Buckshot, run!”

Bud learned the value of hard work at an early age and one of his chores was to carry and stack the wood used to heat their home. As he got older, he got a job driving a horse and sleigh, taking the area children back and forth to school. He really was the first country bus driver. The kids loved riding with Bud, and even after he got a pick-up truck, he still drove them back and forth to school. He then began working at his brother-in-law’s sawmill in Hart. Bud liked this kind of work and would later own and operate his own sawmill in Hesperia.

In the early 1950’s Bud met and married Rosalie Skinner. They lived in the Ferry Township area for a while, but sadly, the marriage ended in divorce. Back when he was a teenager, Bud had met a young lady named Opal Isley, the sister of one of his best friends. They met again as adults and, both being lonely from divorces, decided to rekindle their friendship. They found they enjoyed each other’s company and Bud asked Opal for a date. Their first date was dinner and dancing, and while they were waiting for their dinners, Bud asked Opal if she would like to play a game of pool. Opal remarked that she didn’t know how but was willing to learn. Just then, their dinners arrived. Opal took her pool cue, swept all the balls into the pockets, declared herself the winner, and went to eat her dinner. The couple so enjoyed being together that on July 2, 1970 they were married in the town of Hart, Michigan. This was the greatest day of Bud’s life and his children often remarked that he and Opal were true soul mates.

Bud and Opal lived near Stony Lake for a while and then moved to Hesperia where Bud operated his sawmill for the next 18 years. Their home in Hesperia was simple – block walls and a dirt floor when they first bought it, but it was filled with the love and laughter of 2 families blended as one. The children often helped out at the sawmill, and though the work was hard, they viewed it more as fun than work. Many times, water fights broke out, and a family free-for-all would take place, much to the delight of everyone involved. When Bud was involved in an accident with the logging truck, the impact caused him to bend the steering wheel. As several people tried to bend the wheel back unsuccessfully, Bud jumped in and with much adrenaline, bent it back into place with ease, earning him the nickname of “Superman.” In 1989, Bud and Opal moved to Free Soil, and Bud served his community as a member of the Free Soil Township Board of Review.

When Bud’s birthday rolled around, Opal always threw him a huge birthday party. Bud always looked forward to this party because it meant that all of his friends and family would be together. He would show up, dressed in his traditional garb of his famed “spring” glasses and a 2-beer can hat on his head. The party was always held on a Saturday, so no one would have to worry about going to work the next day.

Harry “Bud” Weaver worked hard all his life – to support his family and keep them close. He truly was the best father and husband anyone could have.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sons Robert Thompson and Ralph Weaver, his sisters Leah Mead Wallace and Vietta Roth, and his brother Ralph Weaver. He will be deeply missed by his wife Opal, his children Valerie (Ray) Conklin of Bitely, Joyce Cyphers of Grant, Lorann (Donald) Jahr of Fremont, Larry (Lora) Weaver, and Harry (Cindy) Weaver III all of Hesperia, Carol Peisner of Florida, and Cindy (Darwin) Wahr of Free Soil, his daughter-in-law Cathy (William) Hunsucker of Hesperia, 19 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and his sister Mary Mead of Arizona.

Harry “Bud” Weaver died Monday, May 31, 2004 at Tendercare of Ludington, surrounded by his family. A Celebration of Life service will be held for Bud at 3:00 PM on Friday, June 4 at the Stephens Life Story Funeral Home in Scottville, with Rev. Robert Shellhouse of the Elbridge Community Church in Hart officiating. Friends may meet with his family for a time of visitation on Friday from 10:00 AM until Noon, and 2:00 PM until time of services at the funeral home. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the care of his family. You may read Bud’s life story, sign the guest book, leave a memory for his family, or make a memorial contribution at www.lifestorynet.com. Arrangements are being cared for by the Stephens Life Story Funeral Home in Scottville.