She was born May 30, 1928 in Shelbina, Mo. to Ben F. Dobyns, Sr. and Bess Lasley Dobyns. Though she had not lived in Shelbina for many years, she always considered it “home”.
Buffy graduated from Shelbina High School in 1946 and went to Mount Holyoke College in Massachusetts. She liked to say she took her junior year “abroad” when she went to the University of Missouri for her junior year, before returning to Mount Holyoke to graduate. While at Missouri, as she would call it, she pledged Kappa Kappa Gamma, which gave her lifelong friendships she cherished.
She moved to Chicago where she worked for the Chicago Daily News and was crowned Miss Page One. She later moved to Kansas City where she was the secretary for Chancellor Drake at the University of Missouri Kansas City. She met Jim Gasal at Second Presbyterian Church where he asked her out after service one Sunday. They were married October 1, 1960 in Colorado Springs.
Buffy had two children, David and Elizabeth. She was very involved in all their activities at Pembroke Country Day School and Sunset Hill School. Buffy particularly enjoyed working at the annual Clothesline Sale at Pem-Day. She was always welcoming to all her kids’ friends, who spent many happy times at their home. Buffy was also a volunteer at Second Presbyterian Church and the Rose Brooks Center. She and Jim were longtime members of The Carriage Club and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Buffy had many friends who meant so much to her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Gasal, her parents, and her brother Ben F. Dobyns, Jr, and sister-in-law Mary Dobyns. She is survived by her son, David Gasal, her daughter Elizabeth Gasal Ferguson (Jim) and grandchildren Lucy, Molly, David Jr. and Harry Gasal; and Joe and Jack Ferguson.
The family would like to thank the staff of The Forum at Overland Park – especially Charla Roberts – for their kind and compassionate care for Buffy.
Visitation from 10:30 am – 11 am, Memorial Service at 11 am, Saturday, August 14 at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer and Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Second Presbyterian Church, 318 East 55th Street, Kansas City, MO 64113.
