UNIONTOWN
William Brumett Jr., 91, of Uniontown completed his journey between the dash on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, after passing away in the home that he built surrounded by his family.
Born on a cold snowy Monday, Feb. 22, 1926, in Harlan County, Kentucky, he was the one of 12 children of Will and Edna Hensley Brumett. They preceded him in death.
The birth and death of this great man, however, is not nearly as relevant as all the days and nights that he lived to the fullest between those two dates. It was the simple things around him in life that he never took for granted. Commenting daily how fortunate and thankful he was. He was a man of strong faith and never passed an opportunity to help or lend a hand to someone. Many have been blessed by his kindness and compassion. He always said “If you have enough, then give the rest away.” Living on Pine Mountain in Harlan County with his parents, brothers and sisters, there was always something to do including helping around the farm, tending the garden, caring for the animals or fetching water from the nearby creek. His mother called him June and throughout his life he would answer to many names including Bill, Junie, Junebug, Daddy and Pappy.
He was a veteran of World War II serving in the Navy. He served his country stationed on the USS Sitka (APA 113) as seaman 2nd class. The USS Sitka was watching for enemy submarines in the South Pacific when the call came that Pearl Harbor had just been attacked. The ship was ordered to the harbor to assist in the clean up.
William met his sweetheart Leona Peavler on a blind date set up by his sister, Thelma. Walking into Snow’s Restaurant on a Friday night he wasn’t quite sure of what his sister had set him up for. He said when he saw Leona, she was the prettiest girl he ever laid eyes on. They were married Aug. 3, 1946, in Uniontown by the Rev. Walter Mosley. It was a double ceremony as Bill’s brother, Lewis, and Leona’s cousin, Dorothy, also were married. Bill and Leona, who survives, were married just shy of 71 years.
He was a 25-year employee of Arvin Industries Inc., and when it closed he went to work at Cummins Engine Co. for 13 years, retiring as a security guard. Bill loved to mow grass and kept his place immaculate. He enjoyed gardening, building martin birdhouses and playing guitar with the Brumett boys at family gatherings. He enjoyed sitting by the wood stove sharing stories with family about living on Pine Mountain.
He was a member of the old New Hope Church of the Brethren, where we served as a deacon and held many other offices.
Other survivors include daughter, Sherry (Thomas) Bridges of Uniontown; son, Gary Brumett of Uniontown; granddaughters, Sarah (Patrick) Gerth and Sandra (Blake Trimpe) Mosley, all of Seymour; his great-granddaughter, Brittany Beard, and her mother, Lisa Robinson Beard of Vallonia; two brothers, Hubert Brumett of Uniontown and Lloyd Brumett of Paris Crossing; and a sister, Thelma Cathcart of Scottsburg.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Amanda Dee Bridges; grandson, Tony Beard; four brothers, Harrison, Roy, Lewis and Boyd; and four sisters, Nola Hensley, Pearl St. Clair, Ruby Manley and Audney Brock.
The funeral service will be at noon Monday at Buchanan Funeral Home in Austin with the Rev. Mark Wooten officiating. Burial will be at Uniontown Cemetery.
Family and friends will gather from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Uniontown Cemetery.
Condolences may shared with the family at buchananfuneralhome.net.