Gladys Grace "Buffy" (Plumb) Buffum, 86, of Winfield, Kansas, retired licensed practical nurse, died November 4, 2014, at Winfield Resthaven.

She was born January 25, 1928, in Readsboro, Vermont, to Jay G. and Flora Helen (Ware) Plumb. She was raised in Readsboro.

She married J. Howard Buffum on June 5, 1948. They lived in North Adams, Uxbridge, Williamsburg, and Holyoke, Massachusetts. She and her husband retired in the late 1980's and relocated to Eustis, Florida. They moved to Winfield in 1995 to be closer to family. She was best known as "Buffy."

In Winfield, Buffy was an active member of the First United Methodist Church, its Mizpah-Seekers Sunday School class, and Senior Adult Fellowship; had been the co-chair of the church's prayer chain; and was a member and secretary of the church women's Anna Ruth Circle. In the community, Buffy served as a teacher's helper in the second grade classroom at Whittier School, and she was a Big Sister with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cowley County.

For ten years, while raising her own four children, she was a foster parent caring for many needy children from infants to preschoolers until they could be placed in permanent foster or adoptive homes.

For 22 years, she was employed by the Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, Mass. She started in 1966 as a nurse's aide then, after attending Smith's Vocational School of Practical Nursing in Northampton, was a licensed practical nurse on the orthopedic ICU floor for 15 years until her retirement in 1988.

Buffy was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, J. Howard Buffum; two sisters, Amy C. Cushman and Helen M. Sutton; and special friend, John H.F. Adams.

She is survived by two daughters, Nancy D. Vinelli of Springfield, Missouri, and Althea (Toby) Mattics, and husband Tom, of Prescott Valley, Arizona; two sons, Bruce M. Buffum, and wife Stephanie, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Brian D. Buffum, and wife Lisa, of Winfield; nine grandchildren, Danielle, Jennifer, Wendy, Tara, Seth, Jetta, Kaitlyn, Kelsey and Jay, six great-grandchildren, Carson, Parker, Cooper, Jacob, Noah and Bella, and one BBBS Little Sister, Arika.

Memorial services will be held on Saturday, November 15, 2014 at 10:00 A.M. at First United Methodist Church. Private family inurnment will take place at Highland Cemetery. Miles Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials have been established in Buffy's name for Big Brothers Big Sisters and for First United Methodist Church Youth Ministry or Helping Hands. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.