Nancy Louise Buffenbarger

NANCY'S OBITUARY:Nancy Louise Buffenbarger, PhD, passed away on Monday, April 23, 2012 at the home of her sister Judy in Grand Blanc. Nancy was born on March 28, 1941 in Scottville, the daughter of William and Agnes (Selander) Buffenbarger, and graduated from Custer High School with the class of 1959. She furthered her education at Central Michigan University, earning a Bachelors Degree in 1963, majoring in English with Elementary teaching certification. She completed her Masters Degree from Michigan State University in 1970. Nancy began her life of teaching for the Grand Rapids Public School system. She then taught for Mason County Eastern, Saginaw Township, and Algonac Public Schools as an elementary, middle, or high school teacher. She proceeded to teach English at Baker College in Flint. Nancy completed her PhD in Sociology at Michigan State University in 1991. She then became a professor of Sociology at Central Michigan University, Lake Superior State University, and the University of Wisconsin on various campuses. After retirement in 2006 she moved back to her beloved childhood home in Scottville to garden. Missing the stimulation of academic life she returned to teach sociology at Lake Superior State and Ferris State University for two semesters. She was a teacher at heart, and took great pride in exposing her students to new ideas and watching her students grow. Nancy loved to travel, touring Europe twice, going on cruises with her sister, and visiting great sites across the United States. She was very proud of her Mason County heritage, and was actively involved in planning Sugar Grove School reunions. She loved to garden, work puzzles, especially Sudoku, and could usually be found reading, writing letters to family and friends, or planning next year’s garden. She enjoyed the company of her beloved cat, Skadi, and found great enjoyment in the antics of the other six cats she helped rescue. Nancy was preceded in death by her parents, and her baby brother Burton. She will be greatly missed and daily remembered by her sister Judy Buffenbarger of Grand Blanc, her brother David and his wife Penny Buffenbarger of Midland, her nephews Jonathan of Arlington, VA, Eric of Redford, MI, and Ryan and his wife Candy of New Carlisle, OH, her great niece and nephew Elizabeth and William. She will also be missed by her aunts Ellen O’Connell of Montague, and Effie Selander of Prudenville, her uncle Elmer Selander and his wife Vera of Copemish, many cousins, and numerous colleagues and students who became her dear friends. Funeral services will be held for Nancy at 11:00 AM on Friday, April 27 at the Bethany Lutheran Church in Ludington. Burial will take place at Brookside Cemetery in Scottville. Friends may meet with her family for a time of visitation on Friday morning from 10:00 AM until the time of services at the church. Those who wish to make memorial contributions are asked to consider the Lutheran World Relief, or “Our Wish” spay and neuter program.

Nancy Louise Buffenbarger

March 28, 1941 - April 23, 2012