Pearl Irene Buffalow's Obituary
Pearl Irene Buffalow, age 95, a long time resident of Howard, Kansas passed away Saturday, December 14, 2013 at the Howard Twilight Manor. She was born June 22, 1918 the 3rd child of William Evert and Ethel Irene (Morris) Green at their home north of Elk Falls, Kansas.
Irene attended rural schools Stone and Stoney Point and then attended Elk Falls High School graduating in 1935. She later attended Normal Training at Emporia College, now Emporia State University. She taught school at Independence Rural School and Bunker Hill Rural School both in NW Elk County.
It was while she was teaching at Independence that a young man by the name of George Robert Buffalow was working in a field across the road on a fall day. He became thirsty and noticed a nice looking young woman cleaning the school house so he went across the road and asked for a drink of water from the cistern. Thus a romance began. Irene and George were married at Eureka, Kansas on September 19, 1939. They established their home in NW Elk County in Union Center Township. To this union four children were born; Myrna, Mary, Sharon and Gordon. Irene was a loving mother, but was strict with rules of behavior, studies, etc. She was always willing to help with homework, lend an ear about a troubling situation. Irene was also a good neighbor and was usually one of the first to respond when a neighbor or friend had a crisis of some matter.
Irene loved her family and was always glad to welcome her children, grandchildren, neighbors and extended family in for a cup of coffee and perhaps a cookie or a piece of pie. She enjoyed it most when the kids and grandkids were home for Christmas or any other time.
Irene was a hard working lady and was always glad to help with farm work, the cattle, taking care of the garden, slopping hogs as well as helping with the housework. She was always willing to help a neighbor, help with the schools and whatever had to be done. She was a good cook and her family will all remember the fragrance of homemade bread when it was removed from the oven, especially when it was covered with butter and homemade sand plum or blackberry jelly.
Irene is survived by 3 daughters, Myrna and husband Frank Winn of Bartlesville, Oklahoma; Mary and husband Jerry Harrod of Howard, Kansas and Sharon Cowden of Gilbert, Arizona, 8 grandchildren, Stuart Winn of Houston, Texas; Sterling Winn of Lubbock, Texas; Stephanie Cavallo of Frisco, Texas; Gary Harrod of Howard, Kansas; Greg Harrod of Wichita, Kansas; Nancy Linville of Gilbert, Arizona; Rebecca Rowan of Arlington Heights, Illinois and Garret Buffalow of Cedar Vale, Kansas, 12 great grandchildren, several nieces and nephews and host of friends. Irene was preceded in death by her parents, husband George Buffalow, son Gordon Buffalow, brother Wayne Green, 2 sisters Nina Cambridge and Hope Hayden and one great grandchild.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 18, 2013 at Countryside Funeral Home with Pastor Robin Haines officiating. Friends may stop and register from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Interment will be held at Piedmont Cemetery. Family suggests memorials to the Howard Twilight Manor and may be left with the funeral home. Online condolences may be left at www.countrysidefh.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home in Howard, Kansas.
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