Michael Chester Bugher

Michael Chester Bugher was born on July 16, 1943, in Vinita, Oklahoma, to Chester and Mabel Ozella Bugher and died on April 26, 2014, in Elk City, Oklahoma. Mike lived in Vinita, Pawhuska, and Holdenville, Oklahoma, before moving to Elk City during his junior high years. He graduated from Elk City High School in 1961 and from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in 1967 with a pharmacy degree, and he was later awarded his Doctor of Pharmacy. He married Judy (Fisher) Bugher on Nov. 20, 1982. Mike was a pharmacist for 43 years and had his pharmacy license in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Alaska. He worked at Paul Jones Drug in Elk City from 1967 to 1970 and at the Elk City Humpty Dumpty from 1970 to 1974. He then opened and worked at United Drug from 1974 until he retired in February 2006. After retiring, he worked as a relief pharmacist in Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Alaska. In addition to being a pharmacist, Mike pursued other business endeavors. He always wanted to own a steak house, so he owned and operated the M-1 Ranch Steak House from 1981 to 1983 in Elk City. He designed, built, and formed the menu for the M-1. His love of travel encouraged him to own and operate Magic Carpet Travel for a number of years. During his time as a travel agent, Mike visited every continent with his beloved wife, Judy, and went on two world cruises, one of which was aboard the famous Queen Elizabeth 2. Mike was also an active member for multiple associations. He served in many offices for the Oklahoma Pharmacists Association District 7 and was president of the Oklahoma Pharmacists Association from 2007 to 2008. He was a member of the Oklahoma Pharmacists Association Executive Council and was a founder of the Oklahoma Pharmacy Heritage Foundation, which implemented and placed the Oklahoma Frontier Drugstore Museum in Guthrie, Okla. He was on the Board of Directors for this organization for 37 years and served as president multiple times. Mike was a member of the Trinity Fellowship Church, the Elk City Rotary Club, the Elks Lodge, the Professional Rodeo Association (the original drugstore Cowboy), the United States Team Roping Association, and the Oklahoma Paint Horse Club. Mike loved to rope and competed in calf roping, steer tripping and team roping. One highlight of his roping career was at the Cheyenne, Wyoming, Frontier Days rodeo. He also raised and showed paint horses in Oklahoma and Texas. The Bughers were well known in Elk City for having the largest Christmas tree each year, with their tallest reaching 23 feet. Mike and Judy hosted many Christmas parties along with the annual Christmas open house. Mike also spent time with Judy's school children. He showed them how to rope during the rodeo days at the first of every year, and he read the "Cowboy Night Before Christmas" every year. Funeral services will be held at the Trinity Fellowship Church in Sayre, Oklahoma, on Saturday, May 3 at 2 p.m. The family has requested that memorial contributions in Mike's memory be made to the Frontier Drugstore Museum, the Trinity Fellowship Church, or the charity of your choice in care of Martin-Dugger Funeral Home, 600 W. Country Club Blvd., Elk City, OK 73644. Mike is survived by his wife, Judy; two aunts, Vesta Getman and husband Larry of Lee's Summit, MO, and Faye Charles and husband Leon of Vinita, OK; sister-in-law Glenna Husband and husband Thomas of Perry, OK; brother-in-law Terry Fisher and wife Felicia of Pawnee, OK; and a host of family and friends. Online condolences can be sent to the family by using the online guest book at www.martin-duggerfuneralhome.com.