Wesley “Bud” Harmon Daves was born on November 18, 1939, near Crowley’s Ridge, Arkansas, to John and Myrtle (Daves) Zolman, the youngest of 9 children. After his parents’ death, his Aunt and Uncle, Asa and Bertha Daves, lovingly adopted him. He then became the youngest of 4 children. Bud passed away on July 30, 2024, at Ozarks Health Care surrounded by his family at the age of 84.
On May 28, 1960, he was united in marriage to his classmate and high school sweetheart Wanda Louise Miller at the Pine Hill Assembly of God Church in Thomasville, Missouri. God blessed this union with 4 children.
He is survived by his wife Wanda Daves, 64 years of marriage, 3 children: Becky Lynn Daves Shelton and husband Rodger, Vicky Sue Daves Drumright and husband Steven, and John Wesley “Skip” Daves and wife Mona, 10 grandchildren; Rebecka, Lee, Lizabeth, Courtney, Miranda, Megan, Tosha, Ronnie, Floyd, Barbara, David, and Christian and several great-grandchildren. He was also survived by one sister Shirley, 2 brother-in-law’s, 3 sister-in-law’s, several nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.
He is preceded in death by both sets of parents, his youngest daughter Beth Ann Daves and one grandson Gage Gransee, 10 siblings proceeded him in death; John, Virgil, Lois, Geneva, Dollie, Shelby, Curtis Daves, Marvin Daves, Lillie Daves Miller, and Hazel Daves Miller.
Bud was known for his personality, he always had a joke, a prank, or a funny story to tell. He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them. He enjoyed raising beagle pups, rabbit hunting, dune buggy rides, and 3-wheeler rides when they lived “up on the hill”. He had little saying that will remain in the memories of his beloved family, such as “fly out the roost’, “good enough”, and give me a sugar and papa loves you” before the grandchildren walked out the door. He always enjoyed a good baseball game or a football game on TV and a bowl of chocolate ice cream made it even better. Bud graduated from Thomasville High School the class of 1959. He worked for what was Ozark Memorial Hospital for 13 years and then worked and retired from Southwest in West Plains, MO after 31 years. He was a member and the Sunday School Superintendent at Pine Hill Assembly of God Church until his health no longer made possible from him to attend church service. Bud and Wanda raised their children and some of their grandchildren in the church to sing a “special”. Bud served on the Thomasville Community Center Board for several years and continued to love and support his Thomasville Community even after serving on the board.
In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorials donation to be made to the :
American Heart Association
P.O. Box 840692
Dallas, Texas, 75284-0692
Speakers will be : Reverend Scott Harris, Reverend J.C. Moore and Gary Dotson. Singer will be Kelly Dotson. Pallbearers will be: David Drumright , Christian Drumright, Brady Howell, Stacy Howell, Courtney Huddleston, David Miller, Eugene Miller, Earnest Lee Shelton, and Rodger Shelton. Honorary pallbearers will be: Edward Baty, Lavern Daves, Hershal Miller, Jack Miller, and Glen Trantham.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, August 5, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at the Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains, Missouri.
Visitation time will be held at Carter Funeral Home Chapel, West Plains, Missouri on Sunday, August 4, 2024 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Burial will be in Huddleston Cemetery, Oregon County, Missouri, under the direction of Carter Funeral Home, Inc., West Plains, Missouri.
