John “Bud” Weeks

March 29, 1923 ~ October 8, 2011

John Warren Weeks, who was known as “Bud,” passed away October 8, 2011, at home in Squilchuck Canyon. Bud was born in Wenatchee on March 29, 1923, in the home of his parents, Jack and Elizabeth Weeks. His family moved when Bud was two to a ranch up Squilchuck, what is now Squilchuck State Park. It was here that he and his brothers and sisters enjoyed outdoor living, what Bud often referred to as “living in paradise.” Bud graduated from Wenatchee High School in 1942. Afterward, he and his father operated an apple orchard in East Wenatchee. Bud married Doris Bennett in 1947, and worked for Harold Weed Orchards. Following the death of his father, his family moved into their Squilchuck Family Ranch. In 1954, the Washington State Parks purchased the family ranch and opened the Squilchuck State Park. Bud was the Squilchuck State Park Ranger for the next 25 years, where he had the opportunity to raise his family in the same house that he grew up in. His family were early pioneers of the Squilchuck Ski Bowl. Bud operated a ski repair shop in the basement of the ski lodge. He retired in 1979 from the State Park, and purchased a small cherry orchard about a mile down Squilchuck Canyon, where he raised cherries until 1991. Upon retirement from orcharding, he continued to hunt, fish, camp, hike and garden. His favorite love continued to be his family and skiing.

Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Doris, in 1999; his son, Ronald, in 1965; his parents; and nine siblings, Dorothy (Weeks) Kalahar Lyle, Amy (Weeks) Patten, Robert Weeks, Avery Weeks, Richard Weeks, Robert “Bob” Weeks, George Weeks, Margaret Weeks and Luella (Weeks) Stanford. He is survived by his daughters, Susan Roach of Edmonds and Debbie (Ron) Walter of Wenatchee; as well as his six grandchildren, Jenny (Tyson) McInnis, J.B. Walter, Mitzi (Tyler) Bishop, Brittney (Marty) Cline, Annie (Troy) Bishop and Maren (Will) Tuttle. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, Nolan, Stowe and Drew McInnis, Saige Walter, Emi and Hunter Bishop, and Boyd Bishop.

A Celebration of his Life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 15, 2011, at the Wenatchee First Presbyterian Church, 1400 S. Miller Street, Wenatchee, WA. Visitation will be held Thursday, October 13, 2011, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. and Friday, October 14, 2011, from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Jones & Jones~Betts Funeral Home. Donations in Bud’s name may be made to the Cancer Society or Wenatchee First Presbyterian Church.