Bufford Baumgarden, 88, passed away on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at his home in Deepwater, Missouri.
Bufford was born in Gerster, Missouri the son of Pete Baumgarden and Eva (Jones) Baumgarden. Bufford was one of eight children, 4 brothers and 3 sisters; Avery, Lester, Jackie and Leonard, Barbara, Wilma Jo and Wanda. Avery, Lester and Barbara have passed to be with the Lord. Bufford said that he and Avery used to walk into town to watch movies when they were younger.
Bufford liked to fish, hunt, raise cattle, work in the garden and ride horses. He also liked playing his guitar dulcimer and sing when he was able. He and his wife worked at Rival Manufacturing and later worked full time at Schreiber’s and come home and work alongside his wife on the farm. Bufford was married to his wife Dorothy for 51 years before her passing in 2009. Together they had two sons Kenneth and Gary. Their youngest son Gary made them grandparents for the first time. Jaunette was the apple of their eyes and could do no wrong. One day she decides to play in a mud puddle and grandpa yelled at her, “What are you doing”! Broke her heart and made her cry. I’m sure he was sorry.
His son Kenny had 3 sons Justin, Jesse and Wade. Justin passed away in 2012. Jesse made Bufford a great grandpa, Evan, Kade and Averleigh. Gary has another son Jakob and recently married Jane and her children, Seth Roskop, Emily Purinton and Cali Purinton. He had a full life and was very loved.
Joyce and Steve visited quite a bit and she would always bring goodies for him and he wasn’t good at sharing. Bufford developed dementia and no longer could care for himself. Kenny, Julie and Wade moved in with him and became his caregivers for 2 years. Gary and his daughter Jaunette helped also. Bufford loved Gary’s smoked wrapped pork loin and Jaunette always made him smile. He also enjoyed family get-togethers and a Big fish fry on Labor Day weekend that was also around his birthday. He was loved and will be missed.
Bufored is preceded in death by his parents, his wife Dorothy Mae (Hyde) Baumgarden, two brothers; Avery Baumgarden, Lester Baumgarden, his siter Barbara Allen, and grandson Justen Baumgarden.
Survivors include his two sons Kenneth L. (Julie) Baumgarden, and Gary (Jane) Baumgarden, 7 grandchildren; Jesse Baumgarden, Kenneth Wade Baumgarden, Jaunette Baumgarden, Jakob Baumgarden, Seth Roskop, Emily Purinton and Cali Purinton, 3 great grandchildren; Evan, Kade and Averleigh, 4 siblings; Jackie, Leonard, Wanda and Wilma, along with numerous other family and friends.
Funeral services were held April 11, 2025 at the Vansant-Mills Chapel, Clinton with Rev. David Mills officiating. Special music included “Amazing Grace and Long Black Train.” The casket bearers were Louis Baumgarden, Gerald Jones, Jeff Jones, Jeremy Denison, Rick Breshears and Leonard Baumgarden. Interment was in Deepwater Cemetery, Deepwater, MO.
Services were under the direction of Vansant-Mills Funeral Home of Clinton, MO.
