Demus Lindel Buckner

Demus L. “Buck” Buckner was welcomed into the Kingdom of Heaven on July 2, 2015 passing away peacefully in Lubbock, Texas. Buck began dating the love of his life, Loretha Kuykendall after he saw her through a church window in Paris, Arkansas. He asked her Dad if he could invite Loretha for a date but was soon corrected on the point that she could make her own date schedule. After marrying on October 21, 1950 in Paris Arkansas, Loretha spent a bit of the next 64 years with Buck correcting him on a number of other points. Buck was born in Webb City, Arkansas on November 27, 1928 to Cora Acord Buckner (deceased) and Charley A. Buckner (deceased). He had two brothers and six sisters and many nieces and nephews. Buck moved his bride and their firstborn to Texas in 1952. He and Loretha had 3 beloved children. Nina Ruth Brown (deceased), Lindsey D. (wife Laura) of Midland, and Susan Elaine Mathes (deceased). They also had two valued son-in laws, Ronnie Brown (deceased) and Stan Mathes (wife Susie) of Lubbock. Buck taught his children to fish, to select quality tools, and to love nature, especially in the beautiful Arkansas River Valley between the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains. He took extreme pride in his grandchildren Dominique Brown DeMille (wife Olivia) of Springdale, Arkansas, Jennifer Mathes Boller (husband Les) of Lubbock, Joshua Mathes of Lubbock, Megan Buckner of Seattle, Washington and John Buckner of Midland. And if he had any regrets it would probably be that he wasn’t able to spend more time with his three great-grandchildren. As a point of pride, he remembered every detail of every major event in his 86 years of life and how much it cost. He had a life-long love affair with pie and cookies, actually sweets of any kind in general. This created a major predicament when he was diagnosed with diabetes later in life. He savored ham, bologna and liver loaf, peanuts, ice cream, and any meal with family and friends. He excelled at building bird houses with license plate roofs, telling stories about his family, typing, labeling everything with a Dymo label maker, organizing a desk, adding plenty of screws to any construction project, living within his means, baiting hooks, “pickin” (shelling) pecans, taking the grandkids camping, and making sure Mom had a place for everyone to sleep. He loved to watch westerns on TV and read his bible. He appreciated many free caps and bought numerous jackets and coats like Lubbock was part of Canada. He also was honored to serve in the United States Air Force from 1947 to 1950, including a station in the Philippines. As a 32 year veteran with the Department of Public Safety Driver’s License Division, Buck was a very brave and patient man as he had to sit in many a vehicle while nervous teenagers took a driving test. If you received your driver’s license in El Paso, Abilene or Lubbock between 1956 and 1980, you might have sat in a car with Sargent D. L. Buckner and said a little prayer that he would give your parallel parking a passing grade. He was pleased many of his Troopers advanced to become DPS officers. After his retirement from “the Department” in 1988, he enjoyed his hobbies and working with a good friend as a handyman. He was proud to receive a commission as a Special Texas Ranger from the State after retirement. He despised painting, failure to thank the Lord at mealtimes, Mom’s Toyota “wagon”, and the loss of mobility which meant he could no longer help out friends and neighbors. Buck was a devoted Christian and a faithful worshiper at Trinity Church in Lubbock. When his mobility decreased he sorely missed his friends in the Prime Timers class.

Condolences may be offered at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com