Buford "Buddy" O'Neil

so sorry for this loss. prayers to everyone he will surely be missed

A friend to all!! RIP Buddy!! Lots of great “fair” memories!!

I remember Uncle Buddy from a very early age – his smile, his infectious laugh, his joking around, and visiting him when he worked at Southern States and the WNC Agricultural Center.
Some of my earliest memories are of Buddy, Dad, Mom, and some others who often got together at our home to play cards. It must have been when I was very young because I remember hiding under the card table and looking at all the knees and shoes of all the adults – so it must have been in the early 1970s.
I also remember being a bit older and riding around the countryside with Buddy and his brother Clayton – my dad – in a dirty old rattle-trap pickup truck in the mid-late 1970s. I am not sure whose truck it was but I do remember that there was always the smell of coffee and cigarettes in the air and country music on the radio as well as dirt, fertilizer, plants, and tools in the bed. Dad and Buddy were orphaned when they were young and since they lived close to each other and worked in similar lines of work, they were always getting together to talk business and tell stories – and there was always a lot of goofing about and laughing so I’m sure they were talking about the usual things as brothers do.
After my dad passed away in the 1980s, we drifted in different directions in life, but we would always try to get the family together a few times a year for the holidays and it was great to see Buddy and catch up on things.
I never worried much about Buddy because he was Buddy – and I also always knew that he was out there being Buddy and brightening someone’s day – and that always made me smile. Buddy was a kind man, proud of his Irish heritage, he loved to travel, laugh, and live a bit on the wild side, and all of that is what we all loved about him. Goodbye Uncle Buddy, you will be missed by many.

Uncle Buddy was a great influence in my life. He took the role of a grandfather in my mind and he was great at it. He was always encouraging and congratulated me in my endeavors like when he came out in person for my military graduation. He was loved and will be greatly missed. I hope he is enjoying his time in the afterlife.

I’m heartbroken to learn of Buddy’s passing. I enjoyed our long chats on my daily walk around the neighborhood. He especially loved getting to visit with my dog, Cruze. Buddy told me all about his upbringing, and shared many of his fond memories. I was sad to bid him farewell when I moved to Florida in October, but he was so excited for me and my new position. He will be greatly missed. Rest in Peace, Buddy!