William "Buddy" Armstreet's Obituary
Normal0falsefalsefalseEN-USX-NONEX-NONE/* Style Definitions */table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-priority:99;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;mso-para-margin-top:0in;mso-para-margin-right:0in;mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;mso-para-margin-left:0in;line-height:115%;mso-pagination:widow-orphan;font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}Southern AdventurerWilliam “Buddy” Armstreet was born September 16, 1963, to William E. Armstreet Sr. and Flora McPhail Armstreet in Harris County, Texas. His childhood was spent outdoors with his brother Rusty. Each morning the two would rise and, weather permitting, would head out “bear” hunting, armed with a wooden gun and a large stick. Adventure ruled their day. Time for the boys was also spent with their “pig,” that Buddy and his brother taught to lay down like a dog, and would ride when it was larger. Buddy’s adventurous side was coupled with a compassionate one. His mother recalls a time when Buddy was in his teens and the two drove past an elderly neighbor out mowing her lawn. Buddy asked his mother to stop the car and wait, as he went over and finished the work for the woman. Buddy attended high school, but did not graduate. He later returned to technical school, and began a trade in auto mechanics. It All Started With A KissBuddy entered the pizza restaurant where Kimberly Watson worked and greeted her at the counter with a forward proposition: “Can I give you a kiss?” A stunned Kim hesitated and asked for clarification, to which Buddy repeated his request. Kim finally relented. Buddy then handed her a number of small Hershey’s Kisses…and thus began their relationship. The Hershey’s Kiss became a part of Buddy’s courtship and married life with Kim. Buddy proposed on several occasions to Kim, but did not receive the answer he was looking for. Finally, on one drive home, he asked her announcing it would be his final request; Kim said yes! Kisses continued to be presented on birthdays and holidays, and once, were sprinkled throughout her office at work as part of a surprise decoration. When Kim was pregnant, Buddy came home with a t-shirt for her, adorned with a large Hershey Kiss, and the phrase: “It All Started with a Kiss.” Caring SoulTogether, Buddy and Kim produced four beautiful children. Buddy and Kim agreed that one of them would stay home to raise the children, and after the birth of their third child, Kim went to work and Buddy ran his auto mechanics from home and took care of the children. He had a unique way with his children that taught them many lessons. His children recall how he taught them to drive by letting them drive around their property on their lawn when they were still little. He would take them for long walks along the train tracks and have them lay down pennies to be flattened by passing trains. He once caught three of them, age 4, 5, and 7 at the time, smoking a cigarette behind one of their beds. Buddy sat them down on the floor with an ashtray, pack of smokes and told them to smoke away if such was their desire. As they sat, smoked and “turned green,” Buddy challenged each of them: “So are you going to smoke?” Eventually, the lesson was learned. Buddy and Kim made a pact that each of their children was going to finish high school. Their son Buddy, had different plans, and told his teachers he was not going to take his final English exams. However, his father and a brother in law tracked lil Buddy down at his sisters house and literally dragged him to the exam – which he passed, and, as a result, graduated from high school. Before his passing, Buddy was able to witness the last of his children, Collin, graduate, and do so with such honor as salutatorian he was selected to make a speech. Buddy had a daughter Brittney before him and Kim. Brittany was a great part of Buddy and Kim's children and family.Mr. Fix ItBuddy was very handy, teaching himself to fix computers, televisions and an assortment of other items. As a result of this, and because his mother owned a flea market, Buddy would buy about 20 broken computers or televisions and bring them home. His “collection” got larger and larger. His one daughter commented – “He would have been a great candidate for ‘Storage Wars.’” He was the “go-to guy” for his family when things broke down. On the day of his passing, several of his children experienced problems with items such as their television, vehicle and air conditioner. His wife joked: “I think Buddy took my air conditioner with him!” Animal FarmBuddy brought more than computers and televisions into the family household. Often, to the dismay of his wife, Buddy brought several pets home for the family to enjoy. These included a hedgehog, an iguana, goats, snakes, and just before his passing, a piglet. Buddy wanted his grandchildren to experience the same joy he had as a child with his pig, so he surprised his wife with a piglet, a week before he went into the hospital. A Legacy of Great Character and LoveBuddy was a man of great character. He loved his country music and took the greatest joy in his children, and their children. Kim herself noted to their children: “His biggest legacy, he loved each and every one of you beyond belief.” Buddy passed on August 19, 2012. He was preceded in death by his father, Wm. Eugene Armstreet Sr. and brother, Shannon Dion Armstreet. He will be lovingly remembered by those who remain; his mother, Flora McPhail Armstreet; his wife, Kimberly Watson Armstreet; children, Brittany (Ryan) Hale, Ashley (Austin) Martin, Wm. Buddy Armstreet III, Roy Thomas Armstreet, and Collin Ryan Armstreet; siblings, Sherry (Bobby Ellis) McFarland, Kevin (Laurie) Armstreet, Debbie Henderson; and five grandchildren.
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