TERRY WAYNE BUKER

Terry Wayne Buker, 72, of Centertown, Mo., died Sunday, Oct. 4, 2009, at Boone Hospital, Columbia.
He was born on July 28, 1937, in Tulsa, Okla., the son of the late Warren Lawrence and Virginia Kibbons Buker. He was a 1956 graduate of Will Rogers High School in Tulsa where he played varsity football and wrestled, earning All-State recognition in both sports. He received the Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture with an emphasis in Animal Science in 1960 from Oklahoma State University. He was married on Aug. 25, 1961, in Tulsa, Okla., to Sally Britton who survives at the home. That same day his Air National Guard unit was called to active duty during the Berlin Wall crisis and he served one year on active duty. After release from active duty, Terry and Sally spent one more year in Stillwater, Okla., before moving to Chicago, Ill., where Terry worked for the National Livestock and Meat Board for three years, spending much of his time traveling the country promoting the meat industry. The couple moved to Jefferson City in 1966 where Terry served as Assistant Director of Marketing for the Missouri Department of Agriculture. In 1971 he joined Missouri Farm Bureau where he spent four years as a regional field services representative in Poplar Bluff, Mo. Terry returned to the home office of Farm Bureau in 1974, serving many years as Director of Public Relations and Information, and, until his retirement in 2003, as Director of Administrative Services. A member of St. Martin Catholic Church, Terry was devoted to his family, church, community, and agriculture. He lived a life of quiet service, never seeking recognition for himself.
Terry served as an assistant Scout Master at St. Martin Church, was a regular blood and platelet donor, and was always willing to help where he could. He served on the Cole County Extension Council; was Agriculture Chairman for the area Chamber of Commerce; and was currently serving on the Cole County Planning Commission. For his service to youth and agriculture, Terry was awarded an Honorary State Farmer Degree from the Missouri Future Farmers of America, and the American Farmer Degree from the National Future Farmers of America. He was recognized for thirty-six years of service to the National 4-H for his work with the national meat judging and identification contest, with most of those years being at the American Royal in Kansas City. He received the Missouri Farm Bureaus Outstanding Service to Agriculture award. In 1999, at Oklahoma State University, he received a Special Recognition Award from the American Meat Science Association in recognition of his exceptional service to the livestock and meat industry and dedicated leadership in the support of youth meat judging activities.
Other survivors include: one daughter, Sara Buker, Moberly, Mo.; three sons, Scot (Julie) Buker, Wildwood, Mo; Jeff (Stephanie) Buker, Jefferson City; and Eric Buker, Richmond, Va.; six grandchildren, Trent Buker-Nichols, Lauren Buker, Matthew Buker, Kaitlyn Buker, Danielle Buker, and Meredith Buker; and two sisters, Linda (Mike) Barker, Savoy, Ill.; and Janie Moss, Tulsa, Okla.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 12 Noon, Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, at St. Martin Catholic Church with the Rev. Edwin A. Schmidt and the Rev. Msgr. Gregory L. Higley officiating. Burial will be in St. Martin Catholic Cemetery. Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6th, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Missouri Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture, POB 658, Jefferson City, MO 65102; or St. Martin Parish Expansion Fund, 7148 St. Martins Ave., Jefferson City, Mo 65109. Those wishing to email condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.