Wayne "Buddy" McCollum

Wayne (Buddy) Lavon McCollum graduated to Heaven where he was welcomed by his Lord and Savior and wife on December 18, 2025. Born on March 6, 1937, in Keytesville, MO, to Chester and Dora LaRue McCollum. Married to Glenda (Jerri) McCollum on February 8, 1959. Buddy loved spending time with his family, fishing, gardening, hunting, trapping, and enjoying many more outdoor activities. He loved the outdoors as that was his happy place. One of his special places was the Deer Shack where each year family and friends gathered for two weeks to share memories, a good laugh, and stories of the "big one" that got away. Buddy spent many hours with the love of his life-the Missouri River. We are positive he has already found a good fishing hole, has set out a few bank lines, and has caught several big ones.
Buddy didn't know a stranger and was always starting conversations with anyone who crossed his path. He will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Buddy was so proud of his two daughters, Glenda and Vickie. He bragged about them to anyone and everyone that would listen. Glenda was the nurse who took care of everyone and saved lives. One of their favorite things to talk about was gardening and who had the biggest harvest. Vickie, known to him as "half-pint," followed in his footsteps by serving in the Air Force. He was so excited when she earned her Master Sergeant stripes and outranked him-though only in status. He still outranked her in everything else. Both girls had yearly competitions with him as to who would get the first red tomato, which he often won. As proud as he was of his tomatoes, he was even prouder of his girls and loved them to the moon and back.
Buddy would light up when his grandchildren were around, and he would share his wisdom and advice with them. One special memory was when he, Daniel, and Josh spent three days on an eighty-eight-mile adventure on the Missouri River drifting from Glasgow to Jefferson City. Oh, what stories came from that trip, and they still talk about it to this day. And we cannot leave out his favorite granddaughter (only granddaughter), Debbie Lou. He loved showing her how to cook in the kitchen-or should we say, showing her "his" way to cook. It is such a joy to have these memories of such a wonderful Papa.
On to his six great-grandchildren, Ari, Isaac, Dax, Carson, Tucker, and Mason. Oh, how he loved them. They loved taking trips together with Papa to the pond or to the garden, where they would share a few laughs and cut open a watermelon or two.
Buddy is survived by two daughters, Glenda McCoy of Kaiser, MO, and Vickie Chambers of California, MO; sons-in-law, David McCoy of Kaiser, MO, and Randy Chambers of California, MO; brother, Tony McCollum of Keytesville, MO; sister, Regina Emmerich of Salisbury, MO; sister-in-law, Becky McCollum of Keytesville, MO; brother-in-law, Jim Blackwell of Keytesville, MO; grandchildren, Joshua (JW) Chambers of Jefferson City, MO, Daniel McCoy of Kaiser, MO, Heather Stabb of Kaiser, MO, Debbie Pfautsch of Jefferson City, MO, and Corey Pfautsch of Jefferson City, MO; and six great-grandchildren, Arianna Bullion of Kaiser, MO, Dax McCoy of Kaiser, MO, Isaac Pfautsch of Jefferson City, MO, Carson Pfautsch of Jefferson City, MO, Tucker Pfautsch of Jefferson City, MO, and Mason Pfautsch of Jefferson City, MO. He is also survived by his "adopted" son, Ben Miller of KS; daughter-in-law, Axel Miller of KS; and adopted grandchildren, Breighlynn Miller, Braxton Miller, and Adelynn Brockus, all of KS.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jerri McCollum; sisters, Faye Blackwell and Donna Cravens; and brother-in-law, Gene Cravens.
Missed by many and loved by ALL.
Visitation is Monday, December 22, 2025, from 10:00–11:30 a.m. at Summerville Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Summerville Funeral Home, with burial to follow in Bethany Cemetery in Keytesville, MO. Memorial contributions may be made to Bethany Cemetery.