Elmer "Buck" Pendergrass was born September 22, 1912 in the Ozark mountains of southern Missouri. He passed away August 31, 2012, age 99.9, living independently and driving his car past his 99th birthday. Buck was the fourth and last surviving of six children born to Ed and Minnie (Orwick) Pendergrass. Minnie passed away in 1921. Ed and Nola (Freeman) enlarged the family with two step brothers and twelve half brothers and sisters. Carrying a half full cardboard suitcase and $15 from the sale of his horse, he settled in Whitman County in 1933. He "mule-skinned" and "sack-sewed" for a $1 a day. He and Nava Masters were married in 1940 (Nava passed away in 1975) and together they owned and operated a farm in the Union Flat/Dusty area from 1944 until Buck "retired" to Colfax in the mid 1970's.

Buck became a member of the Wilcox Grange in 1937 and was an original member of the Dusty Gun Club. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, baking cookies, telling a long story and playing cards with his Colfax cronies. He will always be remembered for his hospitable personality and dry wit. He enjoyed the laughter of many children along Union Flat and McNeilly Road when, for 15 years, he drove school bus.

Surviving: son Lee, daughter-in-law Carolyn (Dodd), grandsons Ian (wife Katie) and Kyle, great grandsons Colton and Maxton.

Join us in a graveside memorial service at the Colfax Cemetery on Friday, September 21, 2012 at 10:00 AM.