James W. Weatherly

James W. Weatherly, 78, of Stevensville, passed away, Saturday, October 15, 2016 at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:30 A.M. Thursday October 20 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. James Dunn officiating. Burial will follow at Lincoln Township Cemetery in Stevensville, with Military Rites conducted by the North Berrien Military Rites Team.  Friends may visit with the family from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home.   Memorial donations in Jim’s name may be made to Hanson Hospice Center.  Those wishing to sign Jim’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.   Jim was born June 9, 1938 in Trumann, Arkansas to Leslie & Lydia (White) Weatherly. His family moved to Southwest Michigan and he graduated from Benton Harbor High School, Class of 1956.  Jim served his country in the US Marine Corp.  On April 2, 1961 he married the former Betty Ballard in Benton Harbor.  Jim was employed at Covel Manufacturing in Benton Harbor for several years before gaining employment with Premier Tool in Berrien Springs as a toolmaker.  He retired in 2002 after thirty years.  In his free time, Jim enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting playing the guitar & Texas Hold’em Poker, going to Las Vegas and rooting for the Detroit Lions.    Jim is survived by his special love Irene Cox of Stevensville; his children-Rhonda (Jeff) Young of Watervliet, Kimberley (Jeff) Dilts of Stevensville, Brenda Weatherly of Chicago, Tony Hernandez of Ogden, Utah; Irene’s children that loved him like a Father-Joseph (Kari) Palazzolo of Eau Claire, Mary Anne (Mark) Mabry of Stevensville, Becky (Kevin) Young of Stevensville, Nancy (Mark) Mason of St. Joseph; nine grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; his sister Joyce Foster of Port St. Lucie, FL; sisters-in-law & brothers-in law-Julie Ballard, Barbara Ballard & Jack Ballard all of Benton Harbor, Larry & Linda Ballard of Millburg; and numerous nieces & nephews.    Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Betty on December 18, 2002, brothers & sister-Jack & Charles Weatherly & Arawana Sisson, his mother-in-law & father-in-law Thelma & Clarence Ballard, brothers-in-law & sisters-in-law-Burlie Sisson, Lynwood Foster, Bill Ballard, Irma Weatherly, Sue Weatherly, Peggy & Bob Lamont, Sonny Ballard, & Joan Ballard.