Raymond H. "Ray" Buford

Raymond H. "Ray" Buford Battle Creek Raymond H. "Ray" Buford, age 86, died on Thursday morning, January 14, 2010, at the Bickford Cottage, Battle Creek, following a lengthy illness. Ray was born on December 20, 1923 in Celina, TN and moved to Battle Creek in 1945. He was the son of Haskell Lee and Allie E. (Fletcher) Buford. Ray served his country in the U.S. Navy in both World War II and the Korean War as a Gunners Mate Second Class. He retired in 1989 as the Power House Engineer for Kellogg Company after 39 years of faithful service. Ray was a life member of the Battle Creek Shrine Club-Ira Beck Lodge # 503, Council # 9 and the Commandery # 33; Saladin Temple of Grand Rapids and the Royal Arch Masons of Michigan. He was a member of the Battle Creek American Legion Post # 54 and was the owner and operator of Buford's Tree and Landscape Service. He thoroughly enjoyed his work and his outdoor business was a labor of love, but his true passion in life was his family. On January 1, 1946, in Battle Creek, Ray was united in marriage to the former, Laura Janet Chilton. Surviving is his wife of 64 years, Janet; his two sons, David (Deb) Buford of East Leroy, MI and Dennis (Ji) Buford of Stuart, FL; two grandsons, Aaron and Nathan (Dulce) Buford; two great granddaughters, Payge and Almaryne Buford; two great grandsons, Liam and Parker Buford; his sister, Alice (Cap) Sewell of Cookeville, TN and his brother, Joe (Juanita) Buford of Cookeville, TN. Ray was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Peggy Lee Smith and four brothers, Fred, Charles, Billy Frank and Bob Buford. At the request of his family, friends may call Monday, January 18 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, Battle Creek. The funeral service to celebrate Ray's life will be held on Tuesday, January 19 at 11:30 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Dr. James M. Gysel, Pastor of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church of Battle Creek and Rev. James S. Codde, Chaplain of Lifespan Hospice, co-officiating. Interment will follow at Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, MI with full, military honors bestowed by the U.S. Navy and the Fort Custer Honor Guard. Memorial contributions in Ray's honor may be made to the Michigan Parkinson's Foundation, 30400 Telegraph Road, Suite # 150, Bingham Farms, MI, 48025 or to Lifespan Good Samaritan Hospice, 166 East Goodale Avenue, Battle Creek, MI, 49017. Personal messages for the family may be directed to www.farleyestesdowdle.com