Cloudy, 58° F
(Nov. 13, 2003)
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 20 at the Bridger United Methodist Church in Bridger, Mont., for Garland C. (Buff) Buffington of Powell who died Thursday, Nov. 13 at St. Vincent Hospital in Billings, Mont., after a brief illness. He was 85.
He was born in Bridger on Nov. 19, 1917, son of Robert L. and Vane Walters Buffington.
At an early age, he worked at various ranches around Montana and Wyoming. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1940 and served in New Guinea and Australia before his discharge in 1945.
After military service, he became a bartender, working mostly in Bridger.
He married Florence Boehm Dec. 5, 1946, in Miles City, Mont. They made their home in Billings from 1946 until 1953 when they purchased the All Nations Bar in Forsyth, Mont.
They changed the name to Buff's Bar and operated it until 1966 when they moved to Powell and purchased the Pioneer Club. They operated the Pioneer until 1973. The Buffingtons also owned Clyde's Bar in Powell until he retired in 1985.
To his patrons, he was well known for his stories and jokes.
Buff admired his family and spoke highly of them all. He loved to travel with his wife, Florence, to whom he was married for 56 years. He was very dedicated during the illness prior to her death in December of 2002.
He enjoyed woodworking and especially the making of miniature furniture. He was a member of the Kalif Shrine in Sheridan, the Masonic Ldoge and Eagles Lodge in Powell, the Elks Lodge in Cody and the Bridger VFW. He also was a Wyoming Tavern Association member.
Survivors include three daughters, Lloy Dene (Verlin) Greb of Cody, Garlynn Buffington (Rick DeBuff) of Ryegate, Mont., and Leslee Ann Buffington of Powell; a son, Gerald Buffington of Byron; one granddaughter, Brenda Greb of Bozeman, Mont.; two sisters, Wilma Aye of Springfield, Mo., and Ella Morrison of Upland, Calif.; one brother, Robert, of West Hollywood, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Inurment with military honors will follow services at the Bridger Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Bridger VFW or to a charity of choice.
