Dale Walter Buri, 83, a life-long Colfax resident, passed away Friday, March 7, 2014 at the Whitman Health & Rehab Center in Colfax. Memorial Services will be held Monday, March 17th at 11:00 AM at the Onecho Bible Church. Dale was born January 16, 1931 in Colfax to Paul and Mary (Aeschliman) Buri. His early years were spent on the Buri family farm along Shawnee Road near Colfax. He attended the Hulin School, a one-room schoolhouse, Martha Washington Elementary and later Colfax High School, where he served as the boxing team manager. Dale was active in 4-H, raising and showing his steer and he loved gardening, entering his prized vegetables in the County fair. He graduated in the class of 1949. Dale enlisted in the United States Army attaining the rank of Sgt. He served overseas during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged and returned to Colfax where he went to work at Safeway Grocery Store. He worked for many years at the store and was promoted to Assistant Manager. He met Gayle Gardner of Spokane and the couple married November 8, 1959. They made their home in Colfax and their family would grow over the years to include 5 boys. Dale switched jobs to the Grange Supermarket for a time and then for many years was an insurance salesman for the Life Insurance Company of the Northwest. Dale was honored many times by the company as their "top producer". He retired in 1981 for health reasons. Dale was a member of the Onecho Bible Church. He also was one of a group of buddies that gathered twice daily at Allen's Drive-In for coffee. When the family lived on Southview, Dale loved to build campfires and would sit and visit with his family and the neighbors for hours around the fire. He always wanted to be a farmer and would often take drives through the fields around the county to "check the farms out". He was an avid Cougar sports fan and an even "bigger" Colfax fan, especially basketball. He did lots of wood-working and building, faithfully read the Gazette newspaper cover to cover, and he and Gayle liked to travel. Dale has been a resident of Whitman Health & Rehab for over twelve years. Many of the caregivers there have become friends and more like family. The Buri family is extremely appreciative for all they've done for Dale over the years. Dale is survived by his wife, Gayle, at home in Colfax; his five sons, Chris (Camie) Buri of Plano, TX, David (Becky) Buri, Colfax, Kurt (Kristie) Buri of Scottsdale, AZ, Blake (Angela) Buri, Colfax, and Steve (Angelica) Buri of Newcastle, WA; 15 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. He also leaves his sisters, Florence Claassen of Clarkston, Lucille Willson, Colfax, and his brother, Earl Buri of Spokane. He was preceded in death by his parents. The family wishes memorial gifts in Dale's memory be contributions to a special fund they are creating to honor many of his caregivers at the nursing home. Funds can be sent to: Dale Buri Memorial, c/o Bruning Funeral Home, P.O. Box 739, Colfax, WA. 99111 or memorials can be made to the Council on Aging, Colfax, for the COAST transportation bus. On-line guest book is at www.bruningfuneralhome.com
Bruning Funeral Home of Colfax is caring for the family.