Jerry "Buddy" Keith Roberts

Buddy Roberts was eighty-one years old when he died on Sunday, April 6, 2025. He was born June 20, 1943. His mother was Ruth Iris Moss and Floyd Alfis (Alfie) Roberts in Hamilton, Texas.

Buddy was opinionated, rough around the edges, and had a heart as soft as a marshmallow. He loved his family, his wife Pat Roberts, and his land. He was a very loving and giving husband, son, father, and brother. He was a good man and he will be missed.

He grew up helping his dad on the ranch just outside Hamilton with his three brothers, Bobby, Johnny, and Mike, and his sister Bonita. In his youth, Buddy served in the Navy in Vietnam on board the USS St. Paul as an electronics technician, ETN2. He also served briefly on the USS Mahan, leaving the military as an E5, a Petty Officer Second Class.

He married Patricia (Pat) Teague on March 12, 1965 on the Naval base at Treasure Island, San Francisco. The month before Buddy died, he celebrated 60 years of marriage with Pat. In 1971, they welcomed a son. Joe was born in Austin, Texas. Buddy and Pat lived in Austin, Cedar Park, and Liberty Hill for much of their lives. As a young man, Buddy attended the University of Texas at Austin, getting a degree in Business Management via the GI Bill.

Buddy’s dad gave each of his children 40 acres of his ranch near Hamilton, and Buddy happily chose the furthest back from the road, literally the back 40. When his dad said, “But son, that land is all hills and rocks. It’s no good for farming.” Buddy said, “I don’t ever intend to be a farmer.”

In October 2004, after retiring from a long career as an executive at Wayne Dresser, and a few years at the Department of Public Safety, Pat and Buddy moved back to the ranch where Buddy grew up.

He had the place cleared of all the cedar. Springs came to life in the hillside. Buddy and Pat lived in a big metal barn that eventually became Buddy’s shop while their Victorian style dream house came to life on the top of the hill. He spent the rest of his life in that house with the beautiful view of the surrounding hills and the acre or three of wildlife feed he planted every year to encourage deer, turkeys, and every living thing in the area.

Buddy’s last few months were watched over by the Wings Over Texas hospice caretakers, who helped him to stay comfortably in his own home until the very last few days of his life. In lieu of flowers, Pat Roberts requests that you send donations to Wings Over Texas. The address is below.

Buddy is preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother, Michael Floyd (Mike) Roberts who died in 1998 at the age of 50. Buddy is survived by his wife, Patricia (Pat) Elaine Teague, his son, Joe Floyd Roberts, and his siblings Bobby Harold Roberts, John Wayne (Johnny) Roberts, and Bonita Ann Dearing.

He is also survived by his two grandchildren, Jacquelyn (Jackie) Niccole Ortiz, and Chandler McKaleb Roberts, and four great grandchildren.

A viewing for Buddy will be at the Riley Funeral Home from noon to 1:00 on Saturday, April 12. Service will be graveside at Gentry’s Mill cemetery in Hamilton County at 2 PM. Burial will follow.

This is the address for donations requested in lieu of flowers:

Kerri on Random Acts of Kindness

Care of Wings Over Texas Hospice,

205 South Caddo Street, Suite 100

Cleburne, TX 76031