Obituary of Wilburt Warner

Coffeyville - Wilburt Charley "Buck" Warner, 94, of rural Coffeyville, passed away Saturday night (January 26, 2008) at his home. He was born September 15, 1913 southwest of Coffeyville, the fourth child of George Walker "Doc" and Sadie (Kinman) Warner. He grew up on the family farm and attended Longfellow Elementary School and Roosevelt Junior High School in Coffeyville. He went to work for W.P. Brown at the early age of five. His job was at the Brown Mansion to walk his older sister Zelma Warner to and from work at the Natatorium. He continued working for W.P. Brown until he was 17. In 1937 he met his future wife Merze while she was working as a waitress at Andy's Cafe in Coffeyville. On November 21, 1939 he married Merze Elaine Barber at Kansas City, MO. Following their marriage they made their home in Coffeyville where Buck was employed at Moore Lowry Flour Mill. In 1941 he went to work in the ship yards and began working as a constructional iron worker. He continued constructional iron work until 1956 when he began working for Coffeyville Cooperative Refinery (now Coffeyville Resources) where he was employed until retiring in 1978. Buck enjoyed listening and dancing to the music of Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. He also loved to swim, high dive, fish, hunt and work on the farm. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Coffeyville, Keystone Masonic Lodge #102 A.F. & A.M. in Coffeyville and Mirza Temple in Pittsburg. Survivors include two daughters, Jeanne Elaine DeMello of Coffeyville, and Joan Eileen Warner, D.V.M. of Coffeyville; one son, Wilburt Charles "Chuck" Warner and his wife Debra of Coffeyville; three brothers, Paul Warner, Benjamin Kenneth Warner, and Frank Eugene Warner all of Lowry City, MO; five grandchildren, Drew Keo DeMello, Justin Ross McKee, Marcus Allen Roeder, Scarlett Eileen Venn, and Joshua Shane Warner; and nine great-grandchildren. Services will be at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday (January 30, 2008) in the First Christian Church with Rev. J.E. Reynolds officiating. Burial will follow in Restlawn Memorial Park with Masonic rites conducted by Keystone Masonic Lodge #102 A.F. & A.M. Friends may call on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home in Coffeyville. The family suggests memorials to the Shriner's Crippled Children's Hospital or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice; contributions may be left with the funeral home or mailed c/o David W. Barnes Funeral Home, 306 North Cline Road, Coffeyville, KS 67337.