Former Fig Tree editor, Sara Weaver, died Nov. 18

Sara Weaver, who started editing with The Fig Tree in 2007 under a grant from the Catholic Campaign for Human Development Fund to involve people in nonprofit projects, died Saturday, Nov. 18, at the age of 82.

We pause to remember and celebrate her contribution to the quality of The Fig Tree and the Resource Directory over her years of service with us from June 2007 to June 2020.

She had retired from working in retail in Spokane in 2003 and was looking for options to supplement her income.

In 2014, during the 30th anniversary of The Fig Tree, Sara commented that she continued to work with the publications because she "was astounded by how many people are doing so many good things.

"It makes me feel useful, in contrast to my years of work in retail," she added.

Sara earned a bachelor's degree in religion and philosophy at Bridgewater College in Virginia before going on to Bethany Theological Seminary in Oakbrook, Ill., where she was the only woman in the master-of-divinity program at the Church of the Brethren seminary. In 1968, she completed the degree.

She married a classmate, Jim Weaver, and went with him for his studies and work as a pastor and librarian in McPherson, Kans., Roanoke, Va., Bloomington, Ind., and Marion, Ohio. In 1974, they came to Spokane, where he was associate librarian at Whitworth University.

In college, she had started to major in English, but changed when she felt called to study theology with the goal of teaching at a college or seminary. Her work with The Fig Tree combined both those interests and skills, improving our accuracy.

Sara began working in retail during seminary.

In Spokane, she began attending Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC) in 1980 and was involved with the Pacific Northwest Conference of the UCC, serving on the worship and spiritual life, nominations, and church and ministry committees.

Sara preached and taught at her own church and at other churches.

"Sara was a valued member of The Fig Tree editing team, assisting both with the newspaper three times an issue—third Fridays, fourth Mondays and fourth Thursdays—and the primary editor for the Resource Directory for many years," said Mary.

"Because we edited until COVID at my dining room table, she was regularly present in my home and claimed my grandchildren as her grandchildren, too," she said. "They also claimed her as family."

One of Sara's two daughters, Mary, said that even though Sara did not have much money, she gave a little bit to many organizations.

"Her last gift was to Tom's Turkey Drive," Mary said.

Her service will be held at 11 a.m.,  Wednesday, Dec. 27, at Westminster UCC at 411 S. Washington.