Madge Katherine Buck

Madge Katherine Chaffin Buck passed away May 17, 2011 in Hamilton's Discovery Care Centre at the age of 97. Born in 1914 near Sparta Missouri, the daughter of Earl J. Chaffin and Nancy Viola St John Chaffin, she moved to the Bitter Root Valley with her family in 1918. She watched the Bitter Root evolve from a western outpost to what it is today. As an active member of the community, she has played important roles in making many of the good things in place today a reality. Madge exemplified the qualities of hard work, thrift, and progressiveness with responsibility through her honest and forthright dealings.

Madge was a longtime leader in the Summerdale 4-H Club, served several terms as active member of the Corvallis School Board, was a sustaining member of Corvallis Grange #17 for 66 years, and at the time of her passing was the longest continuous member of the Women's Club in Montana, 71 years. She was a decorated Corvallis high school athlete. Madge was a long-time member of the Summerdale Garden Club, the Golden Agers and a member of the Corvallis United Methodist Church.

Her life was an example of devotion to her family and exemplary accomplishments in service to the community. She was a business-woman throughout her life, an orchardist, avid gardener and she loved to dance. Madge almost never left a room of people without making a new friend.

Madge was preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Edwin Harlan Buck, Jr.; her brothers, Harry Chaffin, Chester Chaffin, James "Eddy" Chaffin; sister, Virginia "Babe" Chaffin Mayer and son-in-law Jack - Swainson.

She is survived by her sisters, Myrtle Chaffin Cunliffe and Lucille Chaffin Cullom; daughters, Rae Dell Swainson, Joan Lee Nicholson son-in-law Robert Jay Nicholson; 7 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and one great-great grandson, plus dozens of nieces and nephews.

The family suggests that memorials be offered to either the Corvallis Women's Club Scholarship Fund, the Corvallis United Methodist Church or to the organization of giver's choice.

She was an example to all of a life well-lived in service to high ideals, and in service to others.