Mable Buskirk

Mable Elaine Wolford Buskirk, 93 of Oak Ridge died at 8:32 pm, Sunday November 1 2020 at Canterfield Memory Care Center of Oak Ridge.
Born September 14, 1927 in Ashland Kentucky, she was the daughter of Michael Wolford and Ethel Rice Wolford. Mrs. Buskirk lived in Oak Ridge since 1951. She came here with her husband Lee, who had gotten a job as a chemist at Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant. Mable was a stay-at-home mom and spent her time raising her three daughters. She worked hard as a room mother and PTA member. She worked with the Girl Scouts and Campfire Girls. She also sang in the choir at Trinity United Methodist Church, where she was also active as a Sunday School teacher, a member of United Methodist Women, and later as a Senior High Youth Leader. A great many youth still remember her as a mentor and friend.

Mable began singing as a child and spent almost all of her life making music. As a teenager she sang in the women's choral group in Ashland. She also was a member of a teenage trio which sang at church and civic events. After coming to Oak Ridge she sang for several years with the Oak Ridge Chorus. After her daughters were grown, she began singing bass in the Sweet Adelines with whom she competed twice nationally. She was a member of a local square dancing club with her husband, and they danced as long as they were physically able.

Mable loved Oak Ridge High School Basketball. She held season tickets for many years. She traveled to many state tournaments to cheer on her beloved Wildcats and Lady Wildcat teams. She was a volunteer Pink Lady at Oak Ridge Hospital for many years. She sang in the hospital Christmas program every year she worked. She also enjoyed all kinds of needlework. She was especially fond of quilting and made numerous quilts. She also enjoyed reading. In 2008, Mable joined First United Methodist Church. She wasn't able to be active in the programming there because her health was beginning to decline. But she went to church every Sunday and did so until she was put into the Memory Care unit at Canterfield.

She is survived by her three daughters, Beverly Cochran (Joe) and Cindy Steele (David) both of Oak Ridge; and Leesa Honeycutt (Larry) of Ft. Oglethorpe, Georgia; and by six grandchildren and by eight great-grandchildren. Her husband Lee died in 1995. A sister, Ruby Short and a brother, James Wolford also preceded her in death.

The funeral sill be at 1 pm, Saturday November 7 at Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home, with Rev. Jenny Caughman officiating. Burial will be at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 11:30 am until 1 pm.

The family requests any memorials go to First United Methodist Church, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830

Online messages may be left for the family at www.martinfuneralhomeoakridge.com . Services entrusted to Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home 865-483-4341