J.B. Bircheat

J.B. Bircheat, age 80, of Tuscaloosa, died Dec. 14, 2010, at home. Services will be 2 p.m. today at Memory Chapel Funeral Home with James Crawford officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Hill Gardens with Memory Chapel Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be two hours prior to services at the funeral home.

Survivors include his wife, Floy Ethel Bircheat (Boots); daughters, Brenda (Marc) Hitt, Sandra (Jim) Estes, Barbara Norton, and Lisa Hughes; a son, Michael (Cheryl) Bircheat; a sister, Betty Hughes; grandchildren, Rodney (Sharon) O'Bryant, Kim (Lynn) Dockery, Jeremy (Haley) Hitt, Jason (Felisa) Estes, Anthony (Alison) Estes, Traci (Cliff) Snow, Danielle and Nicole Hughes, and Brody and Reagan Bircheat; great-grandchildren, Blake and Dalton O'Bryant, Tyler, Colten, and Noah Dockery, Braden Hitt, Taylor Montgomery, Aaron Estes, Hunter Darling, and Madison and Lauren Snow; a special nephew, Terry (Dorothy) Williams; and a very special pet, Whiskers.

Mr. Bircheat worked 62 years as a brick mason. He was a member of the Eastern Star, Commander of the Rising Virtue #4 Lodge, Worshipful Master from 1970 to 1972, a lifetime member of the York Rite, and a master mason. He loved fishing and hunting. He took pride in his children, but his greatest love was for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He lived for the holidays when all the family came together. He will be missed by all, especially at Christmas when he turned into a child himself.

Pallbearers will be Marc Hitt, Jim Estes, Lynn Dockery, Rodney O'Bryant, Jason Estes, Anthony Estes, Jeremy Hitt, Brody Bircheat, and Cliff Snow.

Honorary pallbearers are members of the Rising Virtue Lodge #4, Amedisys Hospice with special thanks to Melissa and Cleveland, Madison Masonry, Deandria Henderson, Dr. James Robinson and faculty, Dr. Pernia and staff, and friends and neighbors.