James E. Weaver

A Celebration of Life service for James E. Weaver, age 89, who passed away peacefully at his home on July 4, 2011, will be held at Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish on Tuesday July 12, 2011 at 11 a.m., followed by a lunch reception at the church.

Jim was born in Choteau and spent his younger years in Billings, where he graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1939. After being drafted into the U.S. Infantry, he served as a 2nd Lt. in the Pacific Theatre for three years during WW II. Jim returned from the war and completed his college training at MSU in Bozeman, graduating with honors in Mechanical Engineering. Jim did contract engineering in the aircraft industry, followed by 33 years with the Exxon Oil Company at the refineries in Billings, Marsa El Brega, Libya, and Kingston, Jamaica. He served most of his engineering career as a supervisor, manager, trainer/teacher, and inspector.

Jim was an avid outdoorsman. He loved to ski, hunt, fish, and go boating. He taught his children to love the great outdoors, and particularly enjoyed fishing in the Beartooth Mountains and hunting waterfowl along the Yellowstone River. He spent countless hours pulling his children and their friends waterskiing around Whitefish Lake. He also had a strong love for music throughout his life, and very much enjoyed playing trombone during the home concerts his wife and (grand-) children would perform each year on Christmas Eve. Jim loved building, whether it was airplane models, remote controlled boats, or residential homes. He built our family home in Billings, and he helped several other friends build their homes as well. However, his most treasured building project is the relationship that was built with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Marguerite and Elmer Weaver, his sister Jeannine Partin, and his brother Jack Weaver.

Jim is survived by his wife, Dorothy; son Robert and spouse Cindy Weaver of Whitefish; grandson Jonathan and spouse Emily Weaver; great-granddaughters McKenna and Clara Jo of Helena; grandson Tyler Weaver of Girdwood, Alaska; granddaughters Hannah and Rebekah Weaver of Whitefish. And son Michael and spouse Jacqueline Weaver of Los Alamos, N.M.; grandson Jonmichael Weaver and granddaughter Amelia Weaver of Los Alamos; granddaughter Kristiana and spouse Caleb Goble of Savannah, Ga.; great-grandsons Gage and Boaz of Savannah, Ga.; granddaughter Hosanna Duran of Virginia; great-grandson Justice of Virginia and many nephews and nieces.

The family suggests memorial contributions in Jim's name to the charity of your choice. Friends are encouraged to visit our website at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of support and condolences for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory caring for the family.