Kenneth R. “Kenny” Buxton

A Celebration of Life for lifelong Lamar resident Kenneth R. “Kenny” Buxton was held on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at 10:00 AM at the Lamar Christian Church with Ian Blacker officiating. Interment followed at the Fairmount Cemetery.

Visitation was held on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 from 12:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Peacock Family Chapel. 

 Kenneth Richard Buxton was born at Sacred Heart Hospital in Lamar, Colorado on April 23, 1945

to Jack and Frances “Topsy”  Buxton. He was welcomed home by two older brothers, Thomas B. “Tom”

and William R. “Bill”. The family home was in May Valley, where Kenny grew up on the farm.  Being the youngest of three

 boys, he was rough and tumble, full of fun and always active. If there wasn’t something to do, the boys created something…

 not  necessarily good. Kenny found out at an early age that his blue eyes, curly hair and smile could help get him out       

 of most of the trouble in which he found himself.  

He had many happy years in the country, playing with his brothers  and cousins, and learning to work on the farm.

Sunday School was at the Clover Meadow Church of God. News traveled fast, and if he didn’t know his

Sunday School verses or caused trouble, Mom, Grandma Turpin, or Aunt Eva Heath was there to

“help”, sometimes the hard way.  He also spent lots of time at the May Valley Store. There was nothing

better than drinking a bottle of pop and having a candy bar or a bag of peanuts and visiting with friends and neighbors.

     There was also the bunk house. The boys did not sleep in the main house, but had a bedroom in the bunk house,

across the driveway. Mom was a sound sleeper, and Dad had a bit of hearing loss, allowing for lots of high jinks in the bunk

house. Many a night car lights were off, motors silent, and cars quietly coasted in, with the driver arriving home a little later

than he was supposed to.  Topsy never knew in the mornings how many hungry boys were going to be at the table,

as the bunk house was almost like a hotel. Some stayed a night or so, some stayed longer, but all were welcome.

  Kenny graduated from the eighth grade at Clover Meadow School and along with his friends, went to town to attend

 Lamar High School. He lettered in wrestling, but academics were only something he had to do when

there was no fun to be had.  

     After graduation in 1963, he went to State Barber College in Denver. He learned his craft well, returning to

Lamar; where he cut hair at Service Barber Shop. He also attended classes at Lamar Junior College.

     He married Mikki Bosley, and they had one son, Brett Richard. Kenny bought the barber shop,

 running it for several years. After he and Mikki divorced, he married Cathy Wallace. He adopted Tiffany

and Christopher, her two children, and they became part of the Buxton clan. Kenny sold the barber shop

and began, with Cathy, his years at Wallace Gas & Oil, Inc.

     He helped build the business into what it is today, working long hours doing whatever needed to be

done. Nobody could ever accuse Kenny of being lazy, and many employees at the station have heard

“Put that pop down. You can’t do any work with a pop in your hand.”  Kenny and Cathy eventually

  divorced but remained strong business partners and friends.

During these years of delivering fuel around the countryside, Kenny was able to scrounge enough parts

from chicken houses, junk piles and windbreaks to be able to build his Model A. He was so proud

of it when it was finished.  It’s apple green wheels really set it off.

      After the retirement of his parents, he and his brothers took over the family farm, incorporating it as

 the Three Bizee B’s, Inc. They made improvements, bought more land. He spent many happy hours

 building this enterprise. It was another place to play, as far as Kenny was concerned.

     He was thrilled at the marriages of his children, and even more thrilled when he became Poppa Kenny.

He could be spotted at ball games, birthday parties and just stopping by to say hi and see what the kids were doing. 

     His life took another turn, and he met Marla Hindes.  They enjoyed many happy hours together.

Marla was his companion until his death, She spent many hours caring for him,

waiting in waiting rooms and sleeping in hospital chairs so that she could be with him if he needed her.  

      He had limitless energy, playing as hard as he worked. He considered mowing the lawn, helping

a friend roof a house, pouring cement or working cattle as play.  He was never one to turn down someone

in need. Always having someone to help and something to do was the way he lived his life. He leaves

this world a better place than he found it.

     Kenny loved the water. He completed Red Cross swimming as a child He was an excellent water skier

as a young man, and became a certified SCUBA diver  He made  several dives in Mexico and  Jamaica.

       The last several years found him in the battle of his life, which eventually claimed him. But,

it was not until after the fight.  He spent many hours in hospitals, rehab, home, and in doctor’s offices.

He refused to give up. Friends who stopped by to visit or called him, often found that he had lifted them

and cheered them up, as well as being cheered himself. He was at death’s door many times during this period,

spit in the devil’s eye, got better and came home.

Kenny passed away on February 5, 2010 at University Hospital in Denver, Colorado at the age of 64.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister-in-law, Lorretta "Blondie" Buxton. 

Kenny is survived by Marla Hindes of the family home in Lamar, children; Brett (Tracy) Buxton, Tiffany Buxton, and Chris (Jamie) Buxton all of Lamar, grandchildren; Sierra, Bryton, Madison, Blake and Cael, brothers; Tom (Dorothy) Buxton and Bill Buxton all of Lamar. He is also survived by Cathy Buxton of Lamar as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other family and a host of friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Southeast Colorado Cancer Initiative direct or in care of the funeral home office.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Peacock Family.