James (Jim) E. Weston

James E. Weston (Jim), age 90, of Morral, Ohio, passed away on February 4th, 2021, at Advent Hospital in Orlando, Florida. Jim was born on June 15th, 1930, to the late Lee Ray Weston and Lena Mae (King) Weston Steen. He is survived by six children: Katherine Yager, (partner William Cameron) of Orlando, Dan (Marilyn) Weston of Morral, Jennifer (Mike) Roseberry, of Nashville, Cynthia (Clif) Wenig, of LaRue, Randy (Carolyn) Weston, of Morral, and Brad Weston, of Orlando, (Mary Pat Weston, of Toledo.) Jim is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 28 great-grandchildren, and brother Ray Weston, of Morral. Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Gerry, and sister, Jane Fogle. Jim came from humble beginnings, having lost his father to tuberculosis when he was 8 years old, and himself contracting tuberculosis the same year. Hard times ensued. Jim overcame the adversity, living a full life. He was a farmer who loved the land, and began farming with his “like a brother”, Bob Cook, at age 15. Jim went on to graduate from Morral High School in 1949, president of the senior class, student council, FFA, and a basketball star. Jim married Gerry, his high school sweetheart, in 1951, and together they built a very successful farming operation, which still thrives today. Especially in later years, however, Jim chose to live very frugally, driving older model vehicles, ordering off the value menu, all the while being extremely generous with his family, friends, and those he met along the way. He gifted countless used cars to various family members, saw that his 6 children received a college education, and helped each of them start their businesses or careers. He was always there to provide physical, financial, or emotional support to his family whenever they needed him, through good times and bad. Jim loved people and never met a stranger. He considered it his mission to make each person he encountered feel special, and to brighten their day with a compliment or kind word. He left a lasting impact on all he met. If one had to choose one word to describe Jim it would be “encourager”. His family thrived and achieved much due to that influence, and when things were tough, no matter how bad the situation, he always found something positive to say to encourage and lift the spirit. Jim had a contagious zest for life, and to the very end enjoyed participating in the farming operation, investing in the stock market, and avidly following sports, current events, and politics. With an amazing memory, Jim was a wealth of information on a wide variety of topics. Also a masterful joke and storyteller, he entertained his family for hours around the dinner table with stories of his past exploits. Family was paramount to Jim. He was extremely proud of his family and would bend anyone’s ear who would listen about them and their accomplishments. He had a unique and special relationship with each of his 6 children and with each of their spouses, and then later with each of his grandchildren and their families. He attended every event they participated in if physically possible. Words fail to convey how much he will be missed by his loving family. Always a man of faith, Jim was a member of St. Mary’s Parish for 40 years. In the last several years, Jim developed a new and closer relationship to God. He would declare that none of “this” (his material possessions) mattered, he just wanted to “promote Jesus” any way he could with the years he had left on this earth, pointing others to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Jim has run well the race set before him, and is now enjoying his heavenly reward. A Funeral Mass will be held on March 6th at 10:00 am at Church of Annunciation, Altamonte Springs, Florida. DeGusipe Funeral Home, Maitland, Florida, is handling cremation. A celebration of life is planned for the third weekend of June in Ohio. The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, those who wished could donate to “Feed the Children” or “St. Jude’s Hospital”, or to another charity of choice, in honor of Jim. Services are pending at this time. The family of James E. Weston invites you to leave a message of condolence on the Tribute Wall created in his loving memory.

James (Jim) E. Weston

June 15, 1930 - February 4, 2021