Allen R. 'Bud' Meek, 87

Allen R. “Bud” Meek of Bigfork, passed away peacefully at his home on Feb. 6, 2017 at the age of 87.

He was born on May 4, 1929 in Great Falls to his parents, George Henry Meek (of Barkingtown, England) and Ethel Marie (Nelson) Meek (of Great Falls).

Bud was educated in the Montana school system. Shortly thereafter, he met and married Joyce L. Lewis on April 26, 1947. They lived in Great Falls where they had three children, Allen R. Meek, Jr., Amber L. Meek and Richard R. Meek. They moved to Blue Bay, Montana in 1961. Bud soon after started to study the Bible with one of Jehovah’s Witnesses and was baptized on Nov. 24, 1962. Bud and Joyce remained married for 52 years, until Joyce passed away on Sept. 5, 1999.

Bud had many different jobs, but they all revolved around his long time love of working on cars. He was a body and paint man who enjoyed working on damaged cars. He did body repair work for over 50 years and was very good at what he did. He took on some of the most difficult jobs, some that others wouldn’t dare to tackle. He knew his trade well.

Though he worked hard at his job for many years, Bud also enjoyed his work in the ministry as a volunteer Bible student as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. He would talk to others about the wonderful hope the Bible holds for the future, the many Bible truths he had learned, and about the hope of the resurrection of lost loved ones. He continued this, as long as his health permitted. Many in the community remember Bud calling at their door with a Bible in his hand. But, he was probably most remembered for his informal or casual witnessing as he loved that best. He liked talking to anyone who came around and would listen to what he had to say about the Bible.

A few years after Joyce passed away, Bud started seeing Helen Lawrence from Kalispell. They soon fell in love and got married on July 13, 2002. They remained married for 14 years, until Helen recently passed away on Sept. 30, 2016.

Bud enjoyed traveling to many of the Kingdom Hall ‘quick builds’ where he would volunteer his time and labor working. He especially loved working in the cooking trailer (cook shack) where he worked side by side with many of the friends who supplied meals for all of the volunteer workers in attendance. The association with his friends and the time meeting many new ones from other areas was also a highlight. He also enjoyed buying and selling used items and antiques. Over the years, he learned a lot about antiques.

Bud is survived by: his son Richard Meek and wife Donnie; two stepsons, David Lawrence, Jim Lawrence, Jr. and wife Debbie; former son-in-law Larce Spence; one step daughter, Heidi Currier and husband Jim; one sister-in-law, Barbara Meek; former daughter-in-law Nancy Meek; three grandchildren, Autumn Drey and husband Aaron; Britney (Meek) Fazekas and husband Kyler; Misty Thomas and husband Seth; two stepgranddaughters, Kari Zavala and husband Roberto; Billie Roberts and husband Ryan; one great-granddaughter, Aries Fazekas; four great-grandsons, Cohen, Wyatt, Bodhi and Eli Drey; five stepgreat-grandchildren, Serena Zavala and Tyler Zavala, & Carson Heaton, Madeline Roberts and Parker Roberts; and two stepgreat-great-grandchildren, Jade Heaton and Emilia Heaton. And many more recent stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren; along with his nieces and nephews.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents, George Henry Meek and Ethel Marie (Nelson) Meek; three brothers, George “Pork” Meek and wife Shirley, Roy Meek and wife Judy and Gene Meek; two wives, Joyce L. Meek and Helen F. Meek; daughter, Amber L. Spence; son, Allen R. Meek, Jr.; granddaughters Lori A. Meek & Crystal J. Spence, and stepdaughter, Francine Smith.

Memorial services for Allen R. “Bud” Meek will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 5, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 100 Vista Drive (off Highway 35), Bigfork. Justin Beavers, an Elder from the Bigfork Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, will officiate.

Arrangements were made by Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory.