Marie Joy Buffett (nee Heard), passed away peacefully Sunday, April 26, 2009 at the Dryden Regional Health Centre, surrounded in death, as in life, by loving family and friends.
Born Armistice Day, November 11, 1918 (hence the middle name Joy), to Myrtle and Frederick Heard, Marie moved to Dryden with her widowed mother and brothers Carl and Jack. Upon their arrival in Dryden, the Heard family took up residence on Albert Street school property, where Myrtle taught school.
As a youth, Marie enjoyed outdoor sports from hunting and fishing to cross country skiing and swimming. Marie was employed as a clerk at Pitts, Wabigoon Drugs, Beath’s Jewelry store, then at the Dryden telephone department as a switchboard operator. Marie joined the war effort in 1943, enlisting with the Canadian Women’s Army Corps, serving until 1946 and was stationed at head- quarters in Hamilton, as a telephone operator, until discharge at the end of the war.
Upon discharge, Marie went back to school in Thunder Bay and was studying to become a beautician when she met, and in a remarkably whirlwind romance, married Clifford Earl Buffett. Cliff and Marie were introduced at their boarding house in Thunder Bay on Marie’s birthday, November 11, 1946, and were married on Boxing Day, December 26, 1946. Together Cliff and Marie raised four children.
Throughout her life Marie involved herself with various artistic styles, including painting, pottery, weaving and ceramics. After her children became self-sufficient she went  back to work teaching arts and crafts at  Cassellhome Nursing Home in North Bay, Ontario until she retired at 65 years of age.
Marie, intrepid, voracious traveler, traversed the globe with an unflagging  zest for life. From Alaska to Australia, Europe to the Asian rim, the globe was no stranger to her. Wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend, dearly loved by all. Marie returned home with Cliff to Dryden in 2002 to take up residence.
Predeceased by her parents and siblings, Marie is survived by her entire loving family: life friend and partner, Cliff; son Bryan Clifford Buffett (Barb); daughters Sherryl Colleen Beauregard (Gerry), Dawn-Marie Bonany (Jim), Sandra Gail Buffett (Holger); grandchildren Melanie Gauthier, Marnie Buffett-Pitt, Kara Bellman, Crystal-Leigh Bonany-Bolduc, Juli Potter, Brandon and Brittany Buffett-Schur; great grandchildren Trinity and Shayla Bonany-Bolduc, Alexander Bellman, Riley Potter, Joshua Pitt, Claudia Bellman, Claire Gauthier, and Georgia Buffett.
The celebration of Marie’s life took place at the Royal Canadian Legion, Br. 63, Dryden, Ontario at 11 a.m., Monday, May 4, with Padre Mary Mennell officiating. Interment of ashes to follow at the Dryden Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, should friends so desire, donations may be made to the Northern Cancer Fund, through the Dryden Community Funeral Chapel.