Raymond B. Weller

Raymond B. Weller from Hastings, MI, age 92, died on June 5th, 2009 at his Carveth village residence in Middleville, MI where he had lived for the past year and eight months. Ray was born in Vera, Saskatchewan, Canada to Louis and Lela (Baldwin) Weller. Louis was homesteading and farming at the time. Ray was the fourth child born to the Wellers in five years. They lived in a sod house and eventually Louis bought a Sears and Roebuck house for $800 and assembled it on the homesteaded property. \r
The family eventually moved to Michigan when Ray was nine years of age and settled in Martin and continued to farm. Ray walked to and from school and relates how he would have to come home for chores and walk back to school for play practice and then walk home again at night. He was an outstanding football and track star at Martin relating, much to the delight of his grandsons, how he would knock out the teeth of opposing players who were only wearing leather helmets and no facemask. He also finished 2nd in the state track finals in the 100 and 200 yard dashes. Lost to the same guy in both races. He graduated from Martin High School in 1934. On January 11, 1937 he became a United States citizen.\r
Ray met Mary Baweja at the Dixie Pavilion in Wayland, MI when they were twenty-two years of age. They were married on June 6, 1942. Their marriage of sixty-one years ended when Mary passed away on Nov. 30, 2003. Before they were married, Ray worked at the E W Bliss Company in Hastings. Eventually World War II called and Ray was shipped overseas to serve with the United States Army. He was a medic in the war, which is why the Weller side of the family refers to hime as 'Doc'. While serving as a medic, Ray participated in the invasion at Normandy. After the war Ray came home to a wife and young son and settled in Grand Rapids, MI on Spring Ave. and worked at Behler Young. He had always like Hastings so he looked into the possibility of working again at Bliss. He was hired and he moved to Hastings in 1952 and eventually became the foreman of the Gear Guard and Weld Shop. He retired from Bliss in 1978. After he retired, Bliss rehired him and sent him to the Bliss factory in Athlone,Ireland where he worked for one year. Mary joined him after six months, as she couldn't bear to have him out of her sight for more than six months. After his return from Ireland, Ray continued to consult for Bliss on a part time basis. Ray and Mary also had the Grand Rapids Press distributorship for many years, crediting that income for putting all three of their sons through college.\r
Ray was a member of St Rose of Lima Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, and the Moose Lodge. While a Moose member he served as Governor and several other leadership positions. In 1994 he was honored as Hastings Moose of the Year.\r
Ray was well known for his witty and quick sense of humor, jovial laugh in which his whole body shook, joke telling, rich personality and flirtatious nature. He loved supporting his boys in their sporting events and school plays, attending every event and allowing them every opportunity to develop their full potential. He was a handyman, could fix anything and a woodworker specializing in making birdhouses, bat houses, windmills and pozy wells. Well into his eighties he enjoyed working in his state of the art workshop at Algonquin Lake. He also built the puppet stage at the Hastings Public Library. Along with his son, Pat he built the Methodist Church flame, which is still located at the corner of Broadway and Green in Hastings. Because of his love for kids, he was a volunteer tutor and reader at the St Rose School. He took up golf at sixty years of age and enjoyed playing in the Weller Open with his sons and in the family reunion golf outings. He had a special place in his heart for his grandchildren and great grandchildren and they all gravitated to him and his wonderful personality. They were especially grateful to him when he made his homemade cloverleaf rolls for the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. For three winters Ray was able to go to Florida at the Deer Creek RV and Golf Resort in Davenport, FL with son, Bernie and daughter-in-law, Sandy, where his positive spirit, quick wit and vibrant personality made everyone feel better and brought a smile to their faces. He was sorely missed when he no longer could travel. He loved the Karaoke and would practice songs on his CD player so he was ready to go every other Thursday night.\r
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, including his step-mother Alice, his wife Mary, son Kenneth in 1998, sisters Irene and Nelda and brother Neil and Vince. Surviving are his sister Beulah (Lyle) Ayers from Plainwell and a niece, Arvilla (Harry) Roe from Fort Myers FL who was raised in the Weller household as if she were a sister. Also surviving are Ray's sons Bernie (Sandy Johnson) from Hastings and Pat (Jayne Fritz) from Fenton MI. Two granddaughers survive and they are: Angie (Marc) Johnson who live on a boat usually in the Caribbean and Rachel Weller from Fenton. Grandsons surviving are: Scott (Kendall) Weller from Crystal Lake IL, Trent (Kimberly) Weller from Fayetteville, AR and Matthew, Nathan and Daniel Weller from Fenton, MI. Great greadchildren surviving are Parker and Sabrina Johnson, Carson, Jaden and Bode Weller. Ray also had a special place in his heart for Brad and Karin Johnson and their children, Matthew, Samuel, Hannah and Micah.\r
Memorial contributions can be made to St Rose School (805 S Jefferson, Hastings, MI 49058) or American Red Cross of Grand Rapids (PO Box 219, Attn: Mark Englerth, Hastings, MI 49058, Please note on the memo line of the check: 'For Barry County')\r
Visitation will be held Tuesday from 6-8pm at Girrbach Funeral Home in Hastings. A Funeral Mass will be held Wednesday June 10, 2009 at 2:00pm at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church. Fr. Alfred J. Russell Celebrant, Interment will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Hastings with full militay honors by the American Legion Post #45 in Hastings.. Arrangements are by the Girrbach Funeral Home in Hastings. You may leave a message or memory to the family at (girrbachfuneralhome.net).