Benjamin Funeral Service Nowata, Oklahoma,918-273-2700***Douglas Merle “Bucky” Buck entered Heaven on Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at his home in Nowata, Oklahoma. Funeral services for Bucky will be at 2:00 pm, Saturday, May 12, 2018, at the First Baptist Church, 433 North Mississippi, Nowata, with internment following at Nowata Memorial Park Cemetery.
Bucky, as he was known from an early age, was born in Dewey, Oklahoma on January 3, 1946 to Henry Lawrence Buck and Bonnie Lee Thaxton Buck. He was educated in the Nowata Public Schools and graduated from Nowata High School in 1964. He was a lifelong fan of Nowata School sports and was adamant that the United States flag be raised at all football games.
Bucky attended community college in Fort Scott, Kansas and received his Bachelor of Science degree from Northeastern State University, Tahlequah, Oklahoma in 1968. He was a veteran of the United States Navy, having served from 1968 through 1972; he attained the rank of Storekeeper Second Class. He was an active member of Nowata American Legion Post No. 101.
Bucky met his wife Sandy at the bank and they married in 1985. In addition to his wife Sandy of the home, Bucky is survived by his daughter Melissa Dawn Buck Gillman and her husband James, of Collinsville, Oklahoma and his son Tyler James Ray and his wife Sara of Smithville, Missouri. He is also survived by his grandchildren Alex Ray, Aubria Ray, Emmalyn Ray and Dempsey Gillman.
Bucky is survived by his mother Bonnie Lee Thaxton of Nowata. He was predeceased by his father Henry Lawrence Buck and a sister Karen Lee Cummings. He was formerly married to Barbara Jo Edmondson in 1967.
Bucky was retired but was a pipeline welder by trade. He had worked for Williams Pipeline Service as well as for Magellan Pipeline; he had worked on pipelines all over the United States before his retirement in 2006.
Bucky was of Delaware Indian descent and was very active in powwows and Delaware Indian tribal activities. He was a member of the Nowata Rotary Club and he and Sandy were members of Nowata Country Club. He liked reading, sports (including Nowata football and golf) and music. He enjoyed his family and friends and was a master at grilling. He was an active member of the
First Baptist Church.