Edward "Bud" Finley

Edward Raymond Finley, or to those who knew him, “Bud” and “Fin”, was born June 24, 1947, in Crescent City, CA to Raymond and Nadine Finley. He was preceded in death by his parents and leaves behind many cousins (wives) including Mike Finley (Myrna), Pat Finley (Bonnie), Rick Finley (Ginger), John Kemp (Leslie), and Ruth Long and many more relatives and special friends too numerous to mention. There are also so many students who were family to him and made him proud every day.

Buddy (his childhood nickname) attended local grammar school and graduated from Del Norte High in the class of 1965 where he excelled in football and track. In high school he could be found working in his father’s Glass Shop on weekends and summers. He graduated from Humboldt State University in 1970, shortly thereafter earning his teaching credential.  Bud began his career in 1971 at Mission San Jose High School in Fremont CA as a teacher in the Industrial Arts Department. In the early part of his career, Bud also coached freshman football.

Bud’s commitment and dedication to his woodworking craft earned the program the nickname “the Wood Butchers.”  There was no limit to what his students could achieve – if they could dream it – he would support it. Projects included everything from violins to a complete horse drawn carriage. Bud spent many hours, nights, and weekends making sure the kids finished their projects on time for the county and state fairs, enlisting parents and personal friends to help. Former students would even come back to help with the final push. Through these efforts, his students excelled with many earning awards from the Alameda County Fair and the State Fair in Sacramento. For 19 years in a row, his students took home State Championships for the best project in the state with Bud earning the Golden Bear award (awarded to the teacher of the student who wins best project). People to this day talk about the awesome display at the Young California Building. His love and devotion to the craft of woodworking and mentorship changed the lives of many, inspiring them to believe in themselves and giving them the courage to create the seemingly impossible. The outpouring at his retirement party in 2007 was testament of how much he was appreciated. After retirement he continued to sub which kept him close to his colleagues.

Not long into retirement, Barbara Bergquist became a big part of his life. Bud and Barbara became reacquainted when they both attended their high school reunion up north. For the past 13 years the two were well traveled and developed a love for cruises – trips included excursions to Alaska, New York, Canada, Baltic Sea, Panama Canal, Caribbean, Australia-New Zealand and a river boat cruise up the Rhine. This post retirement romance meant he also had time for baseball games, football and trips to his beloved Gasquet home.

Summers both before and after retirement found Bud enjoying the lake life at Shasta on the family houseboat, whether skiing or finding the closest party. And speaking of parties, Bud loved the Elks Lodges in Fremont and Crescent City. Often times he could be found behind the bar mixing up a batch of his famous Ramos fizz and Bloody Mary’s.

Everyone that knew him, knew his love of cars, from early on when he and his dad built the MG, to the orange 240Z he sported in his early teaching days. Throughout the years he owned and enjoyed a number of his favorite cars, not to mention the newest and latest truck, finishing up with the Austin Healey, the 1934 Ford Tudor Sedan, and his brand-new GMC pickup. And last but not least, we can’t forget his Street Glide motorcycle and the many runs he went on.

Bud loved life to the fullest and truly loved his friends and family. He was an honest straight forward man with a zest for life. Bud left this earth on April 16, 2023 for the great woodshop in the sky. He was and will forever be, the FIN.

A celebration of Bud’s life will be held on Monday, May 1, 2023, at 1:00 PM at the Fremont Elks Lodge located at 38991 Farwell Dr, Fremont, CA 94536. The Family requests that all who attend be decked out in your Harley and/or Hot Rod Shirts or anything Tommy Bahama to honor Bud.