James C. “Buster” Guiggey

    Guiggey, James C. “Buster”, 83, December 4, 2010.  Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home, Island Falls.  Interment to be held in the St. Benedict’s Cemetery.
    STACYVILLE – James C. “Buster” Guiggey, 83, decided Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, at 1 a.m. that he’d rather be in heaven; God agreed. He was born April 8, 1927.
    James quickly became known as “Buster” by a sister, Margaret, who couldn’t quite pronounce brother. And what a brother he was! He was a perfect brother to Howard, Stud, Ronnie, Margaret, Beverly and Sylvia “Nookie.” Their parents, Sandy and Florence (McNally) Guiggey, adored each of them along with their children and grandchildren.
    As a child Buster was always the first to school – first to school so he could start the fires, first to school to shovel the path for others and first to school just to make it easier for everyone else. Typical Buster, always, always helping others. In later years he built and rebuilt dozens of homes in the community with no expectation of anything in return – typical Buster.
    His greatest adventure began May 16, 1953, after returning from the Korean War in 1952, when he married Clara Patricia Robinson at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, Benedicta. Life quickly became consumed with hard work and long hours in the woods by day, a growing family by night. By 1968, their clan had grown to eight: six boys and two girls. Buster often joked that the boys belonged to Pat and the girls to him. Mike, Dave, Greg, Chris, Dan, Deb, Tim and Lisa have all respected, loved, enjoyed and admired their dad during the past 56 years and will miss him indescribably, as well as their companions, Dave’s companion, Heather, Greg’s  wife, Donna, Chris’ wife, Kathy, Deb’s husband, Ray Bryant, Tim’s companion, Leona, and Lisa’s husband, Mark Martin. From his eight children, Buster shared his love with his 16 grandchildren, Eric, Felicia, Mandy, Tricia, Velvet, Johnny, Bryan, Kami, Ryan, Jordan, Vanessa, Nick, Shantel, Clarazandra, Abby and Kelly.
    Buster’s gold coin collection was quickly depleted by visiting children and eight great-grandchildren, Paige, Cassidy, Brandon, Julian, Madison, Micah, Jordan and his best little buddy, Christopher. From fishing to fiddle-heading, house building to wood splitting, hard work and good times and everything in between, thousands of memories were made with his ever-growing family and infinite number of friends. In addition to his family and his in-laws, Betty and Eddie, Tom and Margaret, Ethel and Olie, and Mary “Shugie,” he is survived by people he had a special friendship with, Skip, Delore Ouellett, Paul, Joe, Dick and Marge, Bob and Joyce Harvey, Edwin Tozier, Mackey and Phyllis, Buck McAvoy, Steve and Jessie McAvoy, etc.
`He was predeceased by his parents; and his brothers, Howard and Ronnie.
    Friends may call 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8, and 10-11 a.m. Thursday at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church, where a Mass of Christian burial will be held 11 a.m. Thursday with Father Joel Cyr, celebrant. Interment will be held at St. Benedict’s Cemetery. Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home, 54 Sherman St., Island Falls.
    Lord, please take good care of Buster, as Buster has done for so many of us for so many years. May he build a beautiful home in heaven for his loved ones that are already there and for all of us yet to come. Rest in peace Dad; we miss you already and love you so much.