Herbert E. "Bud" Cleaver's Obituary
Herbert E. “Bud” Cleaver, 89, passed away on March 6, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. He was born on March 18, 1928, in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his father, Herbert, his mother Marie, his brother Ronald Cleaver, and his sister Joyce Noel. His sister, June Bailey survives him.
Bud grew up during the Great Depression. Life was very difficult, and he never finished high school, having to find jobs where he could help support his family. Some of his early years were spent living with an aunt and uncle in Illinois, working on the farms there.
Bud enlisted in the United States Navy in 1945, serving four years, with much of that time aboard the battleship U.S.S. North Carolina. His ship often stopped at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. He was stationed in New York City as well as in Jacksonville, Florida.
After serving his country in the Navy, Bud married Dorothy “Dottie” Farrow in Kalamazoo in 1949. He worked in a paper mill and at the state hospital in Kalamazoo until 1955, when the family moved to Tucson. Bud and Dottie have been married 68 years, most recently living together at the Asterion Acres Assisted Living home in Tucson.
Bud and Dottie’s son is David Cleaver, who married Suzette Roberts and have four children: Bekka Cleaver, Suzi (Tim) Arnold, Andrew (Nina) Cleaver, and Katy (Yoonho) Jo. Through David and Suzette, Bud and Dottie have three great-grandchildren, Eleanor, Brandon Prince, and Jonathan. Another great-grandson will be born this summer.
Bud and Dottie’s daughter is Diane Cleaver, who married Rick Stephens and have two children: Josef (Kate) Stephens and April (Justin) Kida. Through Diane and Rick, Bud and Dottie have five great-grandchildren, Cayden, Rosie, Thomas, Samuel, and Emi.
Bud worked for ASARCO at the Silver Bell copper mine for 30 years when he retired. He continued working at various jobs, including Vroom Engineering, Casas Church (groundskeeper) and Watson Chevrolet.
Bud served as a boy scout leader in Silver Bell, Arizona. He was a rock hound, walking over many miles of desert collecting gems which he polished and sold. Although hunting and fishing didn’t quite measure up to his younger years of these sports in Michigan, he was an avid hunter and fisherman in southern Arizona. He was also fanatical about the University of Arizona Wildcats.
Bud loved the southern Arizona desert, and nothing pleased him more than spending Sundays in Tucson Mountain Park, grilling the best t-bone steaks ever known to humanity, while blaring country western music on the radio, drinking ice cold beers and jitterbugging with Dottie, and sometimes with his kids.
Bud suffered a massive heart attack when he was 46 years old. It was at this time that he gave his life to Jesus Christ. While recuperating, he walked the streets of Silver Bell, telling anyone he saw about the good news of Jesus. He led many other copper miners to Christ.
When he was 79 years old, he arrived to work at Watson Chevrolet one morning and experienced a massive heart attack, which doctors have recorded as cardiac death. He was not expected to survive beyond a day or two, but he surprised everyone by living another ten years, although with dementia. Even so, his humor blessed everyone, as he would grin and say, “I’m just a good-looking kid.”
Dottie, David, and Diane invite family and friends to Bud’s 90th birthday celebration and memorial service on Sunday, March 18, at 4:00 pm in Barrier Chapel at Casas Church, 10801 N. La Cholla Blvd., Tucson, AZ 85742. Flowers may be sent to Barrier Chapel at Casas.
The family also encourages donations in Bud’s memory to be made to Casas Church’s Flowing Wells Fund for children with Special Needs (in care of Andy Thomas).
A reception will follow the service where we will celebrate Bud’s birthday with his favorite chocolate cake and other goodies.
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