At sunset Friday afternoon Aug. 7, Bob Weir’s life ended as the result of an auto accident that had occurred 14 months earlier.

He suffered a cerebral event behind the wheel of his slow moving auto, killing him instantly, a blessing from God.

Bob was born to Robert Eugene Weir Sr. and Rachel Bell Weir on April 1, 1944.

He was raised in the Bush Hills community attending Woodrow Wilson Elementary School and Ensley High School.

He went on to attend Emory University and Birmingham-Southern College and graduated from the University of Montevallo.

His biology lab instructor at Birmingham-Southern College was Mary Kate Tucker, the 1961 Chilton County Peach Queen.

It was love at first sight that lasted 50 years this past June 12.

Together they had three children: Rachel of Clanton who married David Giles, their children Carter and Rayce; Allison of Hoover who married Michael Hamilton, their children, Chance and Emi Kate; and Tucker of Huntsville, who married Lana Mullins, and their children Selah and Rhett.

Bookie was so mentally, physically and spiritually gifted.

He held two United States patents, one for Air Visor (International Patent also), a safety air respirator and the other for a beach game, Bubba Croquet.

He owned Vintage Verbena Antiques in his 1875 Historic Register home.

He moved an 1840 log cabin onto his Victorian summer home property and furnished it with period antiques.

Both houses were shared with the Verbena Trade Days Festival for 13 years to raise money to support the building and maintenance of the Gazebo in Magnolia Park.

 

He used his musical background to produce Music in the Park for three years to qualify for Verbena’s bronze historical marker. Bookie delighted in being the voice of Christmas Past in a 2014 Arts Council radio broadcast of “A Christmas Carol.”

This thoughtful man retained almost every friend from childhood forward.

Not many people can say that.

Because of his deep connection to his classmates, Bookie was chosen to be on the planning committee for his Ensley Class of 1962 50th Reunion in 2012.

Bob did all of this while always rising early, working a full-time job and rarely missing a day.

After leading the Chilton/Shelby mental health program and teaching, he had to rejoin “big business.”

He worked for the rest of his career in the safety industry.

He was head of Industrial Sales for Good Luck Glove Company where he had a beautiful office on Michigan Ave. in Chicago.

When they opted to move “off shore” he wanted to remain in his home state.

In his later years, he was a safety consultant for logging operations in Central Alabama with his truck buddy, his basset hound, Oz.

In retirement, Bob and Mary Kate lived on the Bon Secour River near Gulf Shores and in Verbena.

Allison is leading off Bookie’s Life celebrations with a New Orleans style Jazz Wake in Birmingham on Sept. 27.

Live Dixieland music and a second line parade will be enjoyed.

Tales aplenty will be told about this man that was so loved. Pub 261 North Pelham Square, 9340 Helena Rd, Birmingham, AL 35244 (205) 444-0261.

Friends will gather for the dedication of his ashes on Oct. 25 at a Fall Roses and Mums Garden Party at the home of his daughter Rachel Giles. Invitations are being sent.

Tucker is taking his dad’s Bon Secour boating pals on one last sunset cruise in November.

A donation to the Verbena Historic Society would be appreciated to help maintain the Gazebo in Magnolia Park.

Bookie and Mary Kate will be buried together in the Old Clanton Cemetery with the pioneer Aldridge Family.

Final care and arrangements entrusted to Ellison Memorial Funeral Home of Clanton.

www.ellisonmemorialfuneralhome.com.