Buddy Sweatt

Buddy Sam Sweatt, born on October 31, 1930, in Newport, Arkansas, to Homer and Luna Sweatt. Passed this life on Saturday, March 30, 2024 at St. Francis Hospital in Tulsa at the age of 93 years of age. Growing up, we faced tough times—my dad lost his jewelry store during the Great Depression, leaving us in a tight spot financially, as money was tight for almost everyone then. I was not raised attending Sunday school so I did not know much about the Bible then. Further, my dyslexia made reading a challenge. In April of ‘36, my dad found a job in Tulsa. However, life threw its first curveball when he passed away in a car accident in Tulsa when I was 5 1/2. But at age 11, during fifth grade in West Memphis, I met Anamary, who became my childhood sweetheart. I grew up during the Depression from 1929 to 1941 and World War II from 1939 to 1945. From 1948 to 1952, I was in the US Navy, where I was given a blue New Testament. Every day of those four years, I prayed that I would be able to get out, go to college, get married to Anamary, and live happily ever after. I served in the Korean War (1950-1953). On one mission, I was part of an armed landing crew sent to escort the American ambassador and his kids from the advancing Red Chinese in the seaport city of Tsingtao, China (now called Qingdao). However, the scariest part of those years was two typhoons. In 1952, 100 mph winds of typhoon Karen blew in from the East China Sea and temporarily halted the fighting. In 1952, the Navy released me from duty. I enrolled at Tulsa University to get an engineering degree and walked on the football team. In the summer of 53, I had a roughneck job in Colorado. I was thrown out of the passenger window as I rolled my 51 Chevy fastback on a Colorado highway. Before I passed out, I saw my car upside down and prayed let it be a dream. When I finally woke up, I was in the Veterans Hospital in Denver with a broken back, but Anamary had come to stand by me. We were married in '54 at First United Methodist in West Memphis before I wrapped up my degree without hurting myself more. Life took a difficult turn in '77 when Anamary fought acute leukemia. I visited every evening after work for weeks. After visiting her in the ICU one evening, I drove home and bargained with God the whole time. As soon as I was home, the hospital called that she was gone. God blessed me by putting Charlene in my life. We married in ’77. I can't say enough about how much she means to me. She was an incredible wife and mother. But life's twists struck again in 2022, she got COVID-19 and coughed for two weeks, not wanting to go to the doctor. Then I could not wake her the morning of December 6th because she was gone. All to say, God has always been better to me than I deserved. I have a hard time fathoming that God loves me as much as parents love their newborn child. Every night, I thank God. Every morning, I put my feet down and say, “This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Then, I can go about my day and find things that make me mad. I am not perfect, and God loves me anyway. Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. The family request Memorials to Broken Arrow Seniors, 1800 South Main Street, Broken Arrow, OK 74012 or baseniors.org Survivors include: Daughter, Amy and husband Scott Ghere, Tulsa, OK Son, Sam Sweatt, Shreveport, LA Daughter, Melissa and husband Greg Williams, Claremore, OK Daughter, Megan Hawkins, Broken Arrow, OK Son, Matt Hawkins, Tulsa, OK Grandchildren, Jennifer and Josh Riley, Jessica and Heath Grammer, Duane and Stephanie Hawkins, Michael and Crystal Hawkins, Conner Ghere, Andie Ghere, Ashley Hawkins, Jeannie Hawkins, Savana and Jacob Homan. Great Grandchildren, Ava, Claudia, Dominic He was preceded in death by: His parents, Son: Bradley Hawkins THE FAMILY REQUEST FOR THOSE ATTENDING THE CELEBRATION OF LIFE AT THE ASBURY CHAPEL ON WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2:00 PM, TO WEAR GOLF CLOTHES IF POSSIBLE…

Tributes

Buddy Sweatt

October 31, 1930 - March 30, 2024