Aug. 1, 1949– Jan. 23, 2026
Ronald Gene Buckmaster was born August 1st, 1949, in Carnegie, Oklahoma to Nora Letha (Harris) and Oltha Charles Buckmaster. He passed away in Elk City on Friday, January 23rd, 2026 at the age of 76 years, 5 months and 22 days.
Ronald, known by most as “Ron” and to his family as “Ronnie”, grew up in Oklahoma City where he attended grade school at Fillmore Elementary. In the 6th grade he moved with his family to Moore where he graduated from Moore High School in 1967. After graduation he furthered his education at Southwestern Oklahoma State University where he received his bachelor’s degree in physical education and social studies. It was during his student teaching that he realized that teaching school was not for him. After graduation, Ron lived the bachelor life where he graded peanuts during that season and raised greyhounds for coyote hunting. In the fall 1977 he went to work for the Oklahoma State Department of Agriculture doing inspections which included dairies, fertilizer houses, seed houses, bees, scales, meat, and reporting the livestock market. During his time at the State Department of Agriculture, he met Cindy Deputy and they were later married on June 3rd, 1978 in Gotebo, Oklahoma. They made their home in Cordell, Oklahoma where he continued his career and Eric was born into the family in January of 1984. In 1994 they moved to Elk City where they made their home. He retired after his 20 year career with the Department of Agriculture to pursue his personal farming operation and daily visits to the Cordell CO-OP. Well, Ron got bored with that and obtained employment with the U.S.D.A. as a numerator supervisor conducting surveys. He continued this until present. In what little spare time he had, Ron enjoyed watching westerns, and spending time with his family and friends. Ron was a member of the Elk City First Baptist Church and was saved at the age of 17 at Falls Creek.
He is preceded in death by his father, Oltha Charles Buckmaster; sister and brother-in-law, Barbara Blankenship and husband, Darrell; one nephew, Bradley Laufer.
Ron is survived by his wife, Cindy, of the home; one son, Eric Buckmaster and wife, Christy, Elk City, OK; two granddaughters, Gracelynn and Gentry Buckmaster, Elk City, OK; his mother, Nora Hutto, Elk City, OK; sister- in-law, Jodie Laufer and husband, Danny, Elk City, OK; nephews, Steven Laufer, Houston, TX, Chris Blankenship and wife, Michelle, Moore, OK, and Chris Laufer, Elk City, OK; one niece, Renee Blankenship, Moore, OK and a host of other relatives and friends.