The Eulogy of  Jimmy Lee Weber - Eulogy for an Acquaintance - Eulogy by a  Funeral Director

Jimmy Lee Weber
 
          Good morning… For those of you who may not know me, I am Zane Gray, the director of the Alexander Gray Funeral Home. I’ve been asked to say a few words about Jim and I consider that an honor.
 
          First of all, I’d like to speak for everyone here today and extend all of our sympathy o Carlma and Scott and the grandkids and the whole family. Losing Jim has been one of those crisis events that will affect everyone forever…
 
          Jim was known by just about everyone around here. If you own a car, at some point you were bound to meet him. Jim’s Auto Service served the community since back in 1992 and most of us have stopped in at the auto supply store in Healdton that he and Carlma owned at some point to pick up something to fix our cars. And when we stopped in, it was almost a given that we’d be greeted by a man who was always ready to help in any way he could. He knew cars inside and out and if there was an issue, he could diagnose it and help you get it fixed. If he knew you or, once you got acquainted, everyone would be regaled by some story he had to tell about one of his collections or some interesting thing he’d found on the internet. If he knew were a local and you lived in the Fox/Healdton area, he’d probably tell you some story of some of the adventures he and his brothers (Bill and Earl and Joe) had around here when they were kids.
 
          Jim was a man who seemed to always need to be busy doing something. He’d always be fixing something – cars, tractors, something around the house. He was seldom idle. When he wasn’t actively ‘doing’ something, he’d be sitting at home in front of his computer looking for something on the internet (he LOVED the internet).  He’d find something that piqued his interest – something he could share with the next person he met… He gained a wealth of knowledge of interesting tidbits he loved to pass around. Or, instead of surfing, he might be listening to some oldie he found on YouTube.
 
Jim was a man who seemed to always have a cause he was championing. He’d find out about something and suddenly become passionate about it and want to let everyone know. For the most part, Jim was a fairly private man, but if he knew you he wanted to share some of the interesting and important things he’d learned and, more or less, thought you should be passionate about those issues, too.
 
One of his biggest passions in life was his antique radios. He had a wonderful collection. Getting a broken one to work was always a great satisfaction to him. He was a long-time member of the Oklahoma Antique Radio Club and loved to see the wonderful old radios others had found and restored and got working. He liked old things. He also had several antique tractors that he was very proud of. If I’m not mistaken, all of them work almost like new.
 
But, of course, his greatest passion in life was for his family. He and Carlma met in high school. They’ve been married for 49 years. I’m sure those five decades held some tough times (any marriage for so long does) but they always managed to get through and love one another. Together they raised a fantastic son, Scott. Scott – your dad was always SO proud of you and the man you’ve become. There wasn’t any achievement in his life greater than raising you. He knew that and believed it…
 
And those three grandkids, Taylor, Megan and Dylan. Your grandfather adored the three of you. I hope you’ll always remember the kind of man he was and that his blood flows through your veins. Take some of the great things  you saw in him and plant them in your own lives – his kindness and his honesty and his thoughtfulness and his interest in so many things – and your lives will be rich…
 
Jim put in a swimming pool when the grandkids were young and he and they spent so many summer days swimming – laughing and playing and splashing – enjoying one another like only a grandfather – their Pawpa – and his grandkids can.
 
Jim used to give his grandkids money to give to other people who needed it. He wanted them to learn about the importance and the joy and the simple ‘need’ to help others. He was a compassionate man who knew he had been blessed and felt for those who weren’t as fortunate as he and his family… Sharing a bit of what he had only seemed right.
 
Jim and Carlma have a couple of dogs. Harry and Beegee were strays who showed up out of the blue – two dogs who certainly landed on their feet… There were never two dogs more spoiled than those two. Jim loved them almost more than his family (just kidding) and they loved him more than any other human they’d ever met. They will miss him like all of us.
 
Jim’s life was one filled with good things – family and friends – experiences and activity – people who loved him – people who needed him. He was taken from this life sooner than expected, but he never had any doubt that he had been blessed and that he had lived life as it should be lived. And none of us standing here today can ever doubt that we have known a man who was loving and gracious and full of life – who was kind and helpful and a credit to our community… A man who will live on in our hearts forever.

           
 
           Eulogy for an acquaintance... Eulogy by a Funeral Director