James E. Weaver, 89

A celebration of life service for James E. Weaver, 89, who passed away peacefully at his home on July 4, 2011, will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, July 12, at Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish, 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 second lieutenant in the Pacific Theater for three years during World War II.  Jim returned from the war and completed his college training at Montana State University 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; 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 the website, www.buffalohillfh.com, to leave notes of support and condolences for the family.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.