Jay Dale Buker

1909 - 2008

STOCKVILLE - Jay Dale Buker, 98, of Stockville, passed away Oct. 18, 2008, at Linden Court in North Platte.

Jay was born to Jesse G. and M. Alma Wymore Buker on Nov. 3, 1909, in Freedom. Jay grew up in Frontier County in the Stockville area. He attended school in Freedom and graduated from Nebraska School of Agriculture in Curtis in 1930.

Jay was a proud lifelong farmer and rancher in the Stockville area. In 1938, Jay moved to Orafino after his marriage to Lillian Hilkey in McCook, on May 3. He farmed between Stockville and Curtis from 1945 to 1974. Jay lived in Curtis from 1974 to 1998 and in North Platte from 1998 until 2008.

Jay was a lifelong member of the Stockville Odd Fellow, District No. 9 School Board for many years, and life long member of the Stockville Congregational Church.

Jay loved to play cards and Chinese checkers. He loved his family, his cows and frozen Snickers candy bars.

Jay is survived by his daughters, Opal Crow of Cheyenne, Wyo., and Carol (Tim) Wright of Apache Junction, Ariz.; his sons, Leon R. (Bud) and (Nicola) Buker of Stockville; Jesse I. (Danette) Buker of Commerce, Texas; nine grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Jay is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Lillian in 1985; a daughter, Esther Buker in 1990; a grandson, Rory Crow in 1991; four sisters; and four brothers.

Memorials may be made to the Stockville Congregational Church, Curtis Senior Center or National Breast Cancer Foundation. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.blasestrauser.com.

Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2008, at the Stockville Congregational Church in Stockville with Pastor Janie Freeman officiating. Burial will take place at the Arbor Cemetery in Stockville.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. today with family present from 7 to 9 p.m. at Blase-Wetzel-Strauser Memorial Chapel in Curtis.