Girolamo Salvanorola Tapley

Girolamo Salvanorola �Bud� Tapley, 80 Girolamo Salvanorola �Bud� Tapley, 80, of Apache Junction, passed away Oct. 27 at the VA hospital in Phoenix after a short battle with cancer. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II in the New Hebrides Islands. He was born in Whitestone, Ga. on April 13, 1927. He lived in Manteca, Calif. where he worked as a cement contractor. He liked building artificial waterfalls and was a true artist. He belonged to the Moose Lodge, was a member of the VFW and enjoyed cooking there and auctioneering for charities. During the flood of 1997 in San Joaquin County, Calif., although flooded out himself, he helped sandbag the levees and cooked for the others who worked so diligently to stop the flow of the water. His vegetable garden was his passion and he loved sharing with others. He loved to tell jokes and was known to exaggerate his tall tales. He was the life of the party and will be greatly missed by his family and friends. Mr. Tapley is survived by daughter Kendra Schmidt of Apache Junction; son Leroy Tapley of Salem, Ore.; 10 siblings including Bob Tapley of Manteca, Calif., Joel Tapley of Sebastian, Fla., Ruth Begnaud of San Marcos, Calif., Evagene Stelzer of Dufur, Ore., Joseph Tapley of Apache Junction, Stephen Tapley of Temecula, Calif., Philip Tapley of Sun City, Calif., Naomi Hulsey of Casa Grande, Ariz., Edith Downs of Chandler, Ariz. and Lewis Tapley of Sanger, Calif.; four grandchildren, Tyler Tapley and Kayla Tapley of Mesa and Stephanie Tapley and David Tapley of Salem, Ore.; 11 step-children, including Kallie Bowers of Texas, James Davis of Mesa, Danny Davis of Illinois, David Davis of Florida, Tony Kuljis of Medford, Ore. and Joan Raymond of Santa Cruz, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Simmie and Argie Roberts Tapley, stepmother Maude Tapley, brother David, sister Grace and wife Katherine Kuljis Tapley. Interment will be 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 16 at the Veterans National Memorial Cemetery, 23029 N. Cave Creek Road. A memorial service will follow noon-5 p.m. at Crossroads Nazarene Church, 2950 W. Ray Road, Chandler.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 4550 E. Bell Road, Suite 126, Phoenix, AZ 85032 or Hospice of the Valley, 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014.