Bessie Fay (Buford) Butler

Bessie Burbridge was born on August 27, 1932 in Cassville, MO. to Wesley Burbridge and Ethel (James) Burbridge. Bessie is the last surviving member of her family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Theo Buford and infant daughter Linda Colleen Buford, her parents, her Siblings: Glenn Westpheling, George Burbridge, and Thelma Williams.

Bessie attended High School one year in Cassville, MO. and 3 years in Yuba City. She graduated from Yuba City High School in June 1949. She was very proud that that all 3 children also graduated from Yuba City High School. In July 1949 she married Theo B. Buford. They were married 59 years. They parented 4 children; Linda Colleen deceased at one day old, Sheldon Buford (Alameda, CA), Marvin Buford (Temecula, CA) and Delores Brown (Lynnwood, WA). They were proud grandparents of 8 granddaughters, 1 grandson, many great grandchildren, great great grandchildren, and great great great grandchildren.

Bessie was a stay-at-home mother for many years then later worked for Yuba City Unified School District for 10 years. Bessie was founder and owner of AAA Childcare / Bessie Buford’s Child Care for 35 years. After her retirement Bessie and Theo moved to Temecula in Southern California on September 29, 2007. Theo passed away in Temecula on October 27, 2008.

Later Bessie met and married Kenneth P. Butler and enjoyed more than 10 years of marriage. After Kenneth’s death, she moved to Lake Stevens, Washington to live near Delores. She passed away November 1st at Providence Hospital Everett Washington with family there.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm Monday, November 17, 2025 at Sutter Cemetery, with a gathering afterwards. For those who wish, donations are encouraged to the American Heart Association at heart.org in memory of Bessie Buford.