By Staff
A Celebration of the lives of Burrel and Maxine Weaver and a Memorial Service has been planned for the Buchanan couple who lived here all their lives. The service will be held Monday, June 2, 2008, at 11 a.m. at the Buchanan Christian Church on the corner of Moccasin and Third streets, where they were members.
A reception for family and friends will be held at the American Legion immediately afterwards.
Maxine Lodica (Shaffer) Weaver, 87, was born May 23, 1920, in Flint, to Clyde and Ulrica "Ricey" (Spencer) Shaffer.
They moved to Buchanan in 1928 from South Bend, Ind. She was a dancer and an acrobat in her younger years. She graduated from Buchanan High School and was employed at Michigan Bell as a telephone operator during World War II, retiring from I &M Electric.
She married Burrel Edward Weaver on March 17, 1941 and they made their home in Buchanan. They had a son David Burl in 1956 and a daughter Nan Ellen in 1959. Maxine spent years taking care of her aging parents. She battled diabetes for most of her life and died Jan. 10 of this year, at the age of 87, following complications after a broken hip.
She had been a member of South Bend's Schuyler Colfax Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) since 1982 and her ancestors came over on the Mayflower.
She was preceded in death by two infant brothers, Donald and Lynn; two infant sisters, Bonnie and Colleen; a brother, Clyde Shaffer, killed in WWII; sisters Alma Shaffer (the late Harry) Stewart and Winifred Shaffer (the late Gerald) Kenaley; both parents; granddaughter, Machelle Weaver and a nephew Robert N. "Bobby" Shaffer.
Survivors include her twin brothers, Robert N. (Molly) Shaffer of Dowagiac and Richard D. (Donna) Shaffer of Berrien Center; son, David (Debra) Weaver, of Buchanan and daughter Nan Weaver of South Bend, Ind.
Burrel Edward Weaver / 1920-2008
Burrel Edward Weaver, 88, was born March 14, 1920 to Floyd and Helen (Rodean) Weaver in Buchanan. He was a 1938 graduate of Buchanan High School and enlisted the Army Air Corp in 1942, one year after marrying Maxine Shaffer. He served in the Eighth Air Force as a First Lieutenant and lead navigator of a B-24 Liberator Squadron in the European Theater of WWII, based in England. He received the Air Force's second highest award, the Distinguished Flying Cross, in addition to earning various other medals.
After returning from the war, he held various positions at Clark Equipment Co, retiring after 42 years as superintendent of the axle division in Buchanan.
He was one of the "Three Braves" who built the campground of the same name north of Buchanan. He and his two brothers-in-law sold the campground in 1977.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman, a surrogate father, grandfather, and mentor to many.
Burrel died April 2, 2008, in his home at the age of 88, losing his battle with cancer. In addition to his wife Maxine, he was preceded in death by his infant brothers, Claude and Paul; brother Irvin (the late Shirley) of Buchanan; a sister, Donnabelle (the late Ed) Sams of Big Rapids; both parents and granddaughter, Machelle Weaver.
Survivors include his brother, Gerald "Whitey" (June)Weaver of Coldwater; sister Beverly (the late Richard) Rogers of Buchanan; his son, David (Debra) Weaver, of Buchanan and daughter, Nan Weaver of South Bend, Ind.
Also surviving the couple are grandchildren, Ben (April) Weaver, Genesia (Jeremy) Ferris, Jonathan Warthen, James Warthen, Nell Swindler, Nicky McDonald and six great-grandchildren.
There is nothing but a book that could communicate two lives so long and so well lived.
Married 62 years, they loved their friends and family almost as much as they loved each other. They will be missed by many family members and friends.
Memorial gifts may be given to The Buchanan Christian Church in their memory. Arrangements are being handled by Swem Funeral Home, Buchanan.