Walter McDonald 'Walt' Weaver III

Walter McDonald "Walt" Weaver III, our father, grandfather, brother and good friend died March 5, 2007, of complication after thoracic surgery. His two sons and his daughter-in-law were at his side, as were the dedicated professionals at Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee.

Walt grew up during the Great Depression, in the small town of Jackson, Tenn. He hunted and fished, and raised state champion hounds as a young man. He attended Jackson High School, and Lamburth College where he met and later married Josephine Ferguson. He enlisted in the military during World War II and was shipped to the Northwest to train as a bomber tail gunner. While training, he attended the University of Washington ad Humboldt State University. After the war he and Josephine settled in Bellevue and began to raise a family.

Walt was chosen to be the principal at Cherry Valley Elementary School, in Carnation, Wash., and he stayed for nearly eighteen years, before moving the family to Eastern Washington, where he became the Jeannette Evans Elementary School principal at Warden. He remained in the Warden School District until his retirement. Including his post-retirement substitute teacher work, his career spanned more than fifty years.

Walt was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, camping, and fishing. In his later years, he joined the Lind Gun Club, where he enjoyed the friendship of many people who shared his love for trap shooting. He shared his amazing slingshot skills, his love of poker, fondness for the outdoors, and many stories with his grand-children who had many special times with him.

Walt will be greatly missed by all those who loved him. He is survived by his sister Patricia (Weaver) Lawrence of Jackson, Tenn.; two daughters, Karen (Jerry) Snyder of Seattle, and Marguerite Murphy of Orting, Wash.; two sons Shannon Weaver of Moses Lake and Reid (Priscilla Davis) Weaver of Monroe, Wash.; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; and four nieces. He was preceded in death by his wife Josephine in 1994 and his youngest grandson, Jackson Weaver in December of 2006.

A celebration of Walt's life and memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 10, at 3 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church, 1142 West Ivy, Moses Lake. Private interment will be held at Pioneer Memorial Gardens in Moses Lake. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Lind Gun Club. Danekas Funeral Home, Ritzville, is in charge of funeral arrangements.