Sara Gravett Bufton-Rosen

A Kansas City native, she was born October 11, 1952 to Ruth and Hilary Bufton. She was the fourth of five children.

Sara graduated from Southwest High School in 1970, and from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, in 1974. A lifelong learner, Sara also earned a master’s degree in recreation administration from the University of Kansas.

Sara taught Spanish at Bishop Miege High School, and later ran the scholarship foundation at the American Business Women’s Association, an organization founded by her father after World War II and at one time the nation’s largest professional business women’s group.

Sara married Steve Rosen in March 1983, and they resided in Fairway, Kansas. Besides Steve, Sara is survived by three children and their spouses, Geoffrey (Jo); Hilary (Graham Battle); Grant (Haley); and four grandchildren, Evelyn Rosen; Henry Rosen; Cameron Rosen; and Hayden Battle. There was a fourth child – four-legged furry Cruz Rosen, protector of the family household and a forever-loving dog.

Survivors also include her sister Carolyn Elman, brother Jim Bufton, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Sara was an exceptionally good listener, and engaging with a great sense of humor and a warm smile. She spoke her mind, born with an assertiveness gene. She was the rock of the family and set the tone for high achievement and always striving to do things the right way. “Can’t” was not a word in her vocabulary.

If there was one word to describe Sara, it would be “spunk.” She had a lot of it. Her courage and mental and physical toughness, and sense of humor were on full display through 20 years of fighting Parkinson’s. She met every setback with diligence and a smile, while working out four or five days a week at the Parkinson’s Exercise and Wellness Center.

Even when Sara finally succumbed to Parkinson’s, it was only because she chose to no longer engage.

Sara loved and protected her family, above all else. Geoff once called her from college 800 miles away in San Antonio because his car battery had died and the car alarm was going off. He knew to call Sara because she would do everything she could to help him and make sure he was okay.

A sign above the stove “Let me drop everything and work on your problems” was her mantra. She solved the problems – all of them.

Sara was a talented athlete. She played on a women’s recreational league basketball team, coached by Steve, which is how they met. Sara was the feisty point guard. But Sara’s real love was the water. She was an excellent swimmer and water skier. In a testament of her boundless patience. Sara taught all three kids to ski.

Sara loved the simple pleasures – using longtime family recipes to make fudge, divinity, pralines and other Christmas candy every December with her sister Carolyn; gardening; making snow angels; reading and reading; vacationing on Maui in Hawaii; and best of all, spending summers at the family lake property on the Chain O’ Lakes in Wisconsin. Sara never missed a summer there and was already looking forward to returning this summer with the kids and grandkids dropping in. She was also a Chiefs fan, loved KU basketball, and was a regular at her kids’ soccer and other sports events.

Sara’s spirit will always be with us.

Do you have a favorite story to share about Sara? The family wants to know to preserve her memory. Send them to [email protected].

A private family celebration of Sara’s life will be held this summer at her beloved Long Lake in Wisconsin.

The family would like to thank the many caregivers who worked with Sara over the years, especially her coaches and trainers at the Parkinson’s Exercise and Wellness Center, and the caregivers at Saint Luke’s hospice house.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in Sara’s memory to the Parkinson’s Exercise and Wellness Center, 3665 W. 95th St., Overland Park, KS 66206, and to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 215 W. Pershing Road, Suite 300, Kansas City, MO, 64108.