William Boyd "Buddy" Pendergrass

William Boyd Pendergrass, also known as "Buddy", was born January 11 1965 in the state of Oklahoma. He was given the birth name Homer Le Rayne White Tail by his biological mother Margaret Lillian White (Crow)White Tail and biological father Fred Le Rayne "Cottontail" Whitetail of Clinton, Oklahoma. He was adopted by William Nelson and Ivalene "Ivy" Pendergrass of Kansas, Oklahoma. Missing since November 3, 2020, his remains were recovered on March 6, 2025, in Springdale, Arkansas. Buddy was 55 years old at the time he went missing.
William is preceded in passing with his beautiful wife Donna Kay Sheppard-Pendergrass, his oldest son Chayston Tyler Pendergrass, daughter Angel Starr Pendergrass- Moffatt all of Ozark, Arkansas, his biological brother Charles Eugene Whitetail "Big Chuck" who was raised in Pensacola, Florida and his biological sister Joella Whitetail also known as Joanne Margaret (Pebbles) Cantwell of Pensacola, Florida, his biological grandmothers Susie Whitecrow and Nellie Whitetail, his biological grandfather Charles Whitetail, his father-in-law J.D. Sheppard, his adopted brother Claude Terrel "Terry" Pendergrass, and adopted sister: Cindy (Pendergrass) Andrews.
He is survived by his sons William Blake Pendergrass and Jadyn Skyler Colton Pendergrass of Ozark, Arkansas, his adoptive parents Nelson and Ivy Pendergrass of Kansas, Oklahoma. His adoptive sibling, Janet Ferguson and husband Rick of Kansas, Oklahoma, four biological nieces, Nova Washa, Clinton, KC Warledo, Alexis Warledo, and Ashley Warledo, all of Weatherford; his mother-in-law Juanita Sheppard of Ozark his grandchildren Rylee, Khloe, Cash Pendergrass of Ozark, grandsons A.J. Moffatt of Ozark, numerous nieces, nephews, and other family.
Buddy and his children are members of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribe. His ancestors sacrificed, prayed and fought for their existence today. As their way of life, as Tsistsistas and Hinono'ei, (Cheyenne and Arapaho) continue to evolve, and they strive to provide resources that improve the quality of life for their tribal citizens.
Tsistsistas, is the Cheyenne word meaning "Human Beings" or "The People." The Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes became allies and formed into one Nation. By 1885, the Arapahos began hunting, along with their pony herd of 4,000 along Wolf Creek in what is now northwestern Oklahoma. Oklahoma is where Buddy's biological family was formed and he returned to several times during his adult life.
No services will be held. Cremation services were entrusted to the Locust Grove Funeral Home.