Billy Earl Buck, 84, of Madill, Okla. passed away Saturday, August 28, 2021, at the Mercy Hospital in Ardmore, Okla. He was born on January 17, 1937 in Kingston, Okla. to the late Fritz Jirl Buck and Cora Jane Baker Buck. Bill was raised in Kingston where he graduated high school in 1955.
He attended Murray State College on a basketball scholarship and later attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University. Bill was a rancher and worked all his life raising cattle. He loved buying and selling cows. His weekly trips to the area livestock auctions were among his favorite things for over 20 years.
Bill married Linda Gayle Caldwell on November 27, 1957 in Milburn, Okla. He had a passion for rodeo, bull riding, and all western sports, along with his pets and farm animals. Bill was an active member of the Oakview Baptist Church in Oakland where he served as a deacon. He also was a member of the Lions Club, Madill Round Up Club, the Gideons, and the Marshall County Jr. Livestock Association. Bill’s hobbies were ranching, music, traveling, and any activities involving his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was survived by his wife, Linda Gayle Buck of Madill, Okla., children: Jirl Buck and wife Brenda of Madill, Okla., Vicki Brunk and husband Gene of Kingwood, Texas, Terri Buck of Dickson, Okla., grandchildren: Brett Carter and wife Lacey, Cass Carter and Bailey Buck, great grandchildren: Grady Carter and Hudson Carter, niece, Margaret Coxsey, and family friend, Trish Long.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, brothers; Homer and Carl Buck, sisters; Edwina Dabney, Geraldine Dillard and Oleta Burkham.
Memorials may be made to the Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children, www.obhc.org and Samaritan’s Purse, www.samaritanspurse.org
Visitation will be Wednesday, September 1, 2021 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a family hour from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Watts Funeral Home in Madill, Okla.
Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, September 2, 2021 at the First Baptist Church in Madill, Okla. Greg Idell, Jon Holmes and Brett Carter will officiate the service. Music arranged by Carol Combs. Services will be under the direction of Watts Funeral Home in Madill, Okla. Condolences may be sent to wattsfuneralhome.com.
Casket Bearers will be James “Redbone” Peyrot, Matt Scasta, Davey Young, Seth Buckley, Max Runyan and Donnie Hartin.
Honorary Bearers are Gene Brunk, Jon Alan Herd, Jon Holmes, Rylee Holmes, Grant Holmes, Joe Barentine, Jim Dugan and Dan Orr.