Monette “Buddy” Tolar – dedicated husband, father, grandfather, brother, friend and soon to be great grandfather – passed away peacefully at his home in Covington GA, with his wife and son by his side, on Dec. 29, 2023.
Buddy (as he was known to his friends and family) was born to Toxie and Bernice Tolar in the small town of Provencal, LA on Sept. 11, 1939. Buddy spent his childhood years in the Louisiana countryside.
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1956 at the age of 17 and was honorably discharged in 1958. Buddy was always incredibly proud of being a Marine and to have been in service to his country.
Buddy returned to Provencal after the Marines to begin a 45year career in heavy equipment and rigging where he would rise to the level of general superintendent over both departments for Cameron Iron Works and Brown & Root.
Buddy met his wife Leona Howell from Provencal in 1959 and would marry Feb.24, 1961. Buddy and Leona would relocate to Texas.
Soon after welcoming their son, Gary. Buddy and Leona eventually settled in Magnolia, TX calling Texas home for 28 years where he began his career with Cameron Iron Works.
They would travel the country working for Brown & Root over the next 17 years. Buddy and Leona would return to Provencal after retiring in 2003. They joined the First Baptist Church of Provencal and were faithful members.
Buddy and Leona would relocate to Covington, GA to live with their son in 2021. Buddy would always say his purpose was to help his son to cut the grass on the zero-turn which he loved to operate.
Buddy was a devoted family man, he was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He had a sense of humor that could always make you laugh and was very interested in the lives of his grandchildren.
Buddy was married to his beautiful bride Leona for 62 years and 10 months and during their marriage they never left each other’s side.
Being a grandfather (PaPa) came naturally to Buddy. He loved to get hugs from his grandchildren. He loved to hear his granddaughter sing and to watch LSU, Notre Dame and Georgia football with his grandson and son.
Buddy lived with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease for the last six years of his life. He battled the disease with the most amazing grace, bravery, and strength. He lived every day with positivity and determination not to let the disease keep him from doing the things he loved.
Everyone who knew Buddy knew that he was an extremely kind, loving, gentle and peaceful person, and that he loved his family very much.
He is survived by his wife Leona Tolar of Georgia; son Gary Tolar and his wife Lisa Tolar of Georgia; grandson Sha’unn Tolar and his wife Christina Tolar of Georgia; granddaughter Alysia Tolar of Georgia; brothers Billy Tolar of Texas and Dennis Tolar of Montana; sisters Deanna Acker of Texas and Connie Pate of Texas. He will forever be in their hearts and missed every day very much.
Funeral services will be at the Tim Stewart Funeral Home located at 670 Tom Brewer Road, Loganville, GA 30052 on Jan. 5 at 1 p.m.
The family asks in lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Alzheimer’s Foundation in his name.