A funeral service for Billy Joe Buckelew of Hartselle who passed away, October 1, 2024 will be Sunday, October 6, 2024 at 3:00 PM, at Hartselle First Methodist Church with Pastor Doug Wells and Rev. Bobby Ray Halbrooks presiding and Peck Funeral Home directing . The burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be 1:30 PM until service time at the church.
Mr. Buckelew was born April 24, 1939, in the Massey Community, the only child of William Ray Buckelew and Ollie Puckett Buckelew who predeceased him. He graduated from Falkville High School in the Class of 1957 and attended Saint Bernard College in Cullman.
Mr. Buckelew was drafted into the United States Army in 1963 as a Military Policeman and served 2 years in Germany and 4 years in the Army Reserves. He then enlisted in the Alabama Army National Guard. While serving he was deployed to Honduras and many tours to Panama. He retired from the Alabama Army National Guard at the age of 60 as a Master Sergeant with a total of 32 years combined service.
Mr. Buckelew’s civilian career included 20 years as County Manager for Federal Farm Credit Service, 5 years as Northwest Alabama Coordinator for Alabama Farm Crisis Program, and 10 years as Operations Manager and President of Valley Commercial Construction overseeing the construction of 4 condominiums and town house complexes in Gulf Shores. Following retirement, Mr. Buckelew served as Building Superintendent, greeter, and usher for Hartselle First Methodist Church where he was a member.
Mr. Buckelew served an elected term on Hartselle City Council from 1988 to 1992. During this term he was proud of being part of the city leadership that was instrumental in providing running water and sewer across I-65 for future commercial development. In later years, he served an appointed 2-year term on the Hartselle City Council. He also served many years on the Board for the Hartselle-Morgan County Municipal Airport where he obtained his pilot’s license at the age of 15.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years Gene Robinson Buckelew, son Patrick Joe Buckelew and wife Kim Elam Buckelew of Hartselle, grandson Hudson Quinn Buckelew of Hartselle, and numerous extended family members in the Hartselle and Massey Communities.
Pallbearers will be David Robinson, Larry Robinson, Nick Bailes, Bart Elam, Coach John Cochran, and Jim Hastings.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Jerry Wilson, Kenny Thompson, Ted Cook, and Billy Jones.
Special thanks to Kori Steele, Allie Morrison with Home Instead, and Leanna Tennyson, Allie Heaton with Hospice of North Alabama.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to Hartselle First Methodist Church for Good Samaritan, Hope House, or Shephard’s Table.
Peck Funeral Home
