Charles Bruffy

Charles “Patrick” Bruffy, 98, Savannah, MO, became an angel at 2 AM Monday, March 26, 2018 in Kansas City (Overland Park, KS). Born August 19, 1919 in Bolair, West Virginia to Homer Hanson Bruffy, an educated traveler (especially for that time) and his wife Glenna Dever, who died when Pat was 6.  He is predeceased by his sister, Shirlie Bruffy (Berardi) born February 16,1917.  He married Jennie Cora Day, born January 16,1917 in September of 1953 in Napoleon, MI.  Jennie died October 23, 1998.  Pat and Jennie had two children, Glenna Ruth Bruffy, born July 1, 1954, and Charles Edward Bruffy, born June 18,1958.

Pat grew up in/around Jerrys Run, WV.  As he was out working in the field with his team of mules, a couple of Army officers met him saying, “you can go with us today and choose your branch of service or we’ll come back for you tomorrow and we’ll choose.”   He joined the Army in the summer of 1937 at age 18 and worked with the Armored Engineers.  He served directly under George S. Patton until 1945.  He attended Henry Ford’s School of Vocational Guidance in Detroit, MI and received his GED after achieving 2 years of high school in 3 months of study.  Pursuing his interests in crops and farming, he received his Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy from Michigan State University in East Lansing, MI, and his Master of Science degree, again in Agronomy from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.  He was employed by various companies such as Federal Fertilizer, Hooker Chemical and Occidental Petroleum which placed him and his family in various states:  Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri, and South Dakota.  He finished his career in a Missouri University Extension Agronomy position.

Throughout these moves he remained with his West Virginia roots by being an avid fisherman and hunter of fowl and animals.  He loved his hunting dogs, each with a job to do.  Game included squirrels, raccoons, rabbits, bobcats, black bears, elk, deer, antelope, doves, quail, pheasants, ducks, geese and all kinds of fish, including gaffing paddlefish in South Dakota. He so loved being outdoors, in the wilderness and on the lake with his friends and family.  He celebrated the joy that a passel of fish and a lot of laughter would create!

He and his Shirley Brown saddle on his mule, and Jennie in a Conestoga wagon rode the Oregon Trail Anniversary route to Oregon City, Oregon experiencing the joyous adventure of every rut and bump along the way.  He, Jennie, Glenna and his two mules traveled to northwest Missouri from Savannah, MO for a fantastic trail ride to see the bluffs.  With several other trail rides under their saddle blankets and in their tents, they always enjoyed the mule rides, meals, music, rodeos and making of new friends.  The event T-shirts and ball caps were always a prize to him.  He loved using the horse/mule events as occasions to visit friends.

He promoted his children’s interests in showing horses and dogs with trips throughout the region and to Canada.  He could back the trailer hitch to the trailer with never having to take a second aim and could precisely back a trailer into a shoebox.

We had many vacations far away, including holiday trips to visit Jennie’s family in Michigan and Pat’s sister in Ohio.  Pat was an asset to townspeople and farmers alike, being very well liked and loved by all. He could expertly fix and build anything and did it with a great smile.  He was a life member of Pony Express Saddle and Bridle Club, Masons, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars among others. Donations to the Kansas City Chorale and Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church are appreciated.

Services will be Saturday, April 14 at 2PM at Rolling Hills Church, in OPKS;  Saturday, April 21 at 11AM (10AM visitation) at the United Methodist Church in Savannah MO and April 28 at 2:00 in Napoleon Michigan.

Written by Glenna Bruffy