Thomas Kent Buckman passed away on March 27, 2024 at his home in rural Martinsburg, surrounded by his family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 am on Tuesday, April 2nd at St. Joseph's Church in Martinsburg, MO, with Fr. Derek Hooper officiating along with Deacon Ron Deimeke, Deacon Lou Leonatti and Deacon Larry Mitchell. Burial will follow at St. Joseph's Cemetery with a dinner following at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Arnold Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Visitation will be 4-7 pm Monday April 1st at St. Joseph's Church in Martinsburg with a prayer service following.

Kent was born July 4, 1953, in Hannibal, MO, to J. Robert and Leona Mae (Levings) Buckman of Shelbina, MO and grew up on a farm south of Shelbina. He graduated from South Shelby High School in 1971 and attended Northeast Missouri State University in Kirksville, MO, graduating with a B.S. Degree in Agricultural Business. While attending college, he met Angela Aulbur of Martinsburg, MO and, after they had dated for three months, they knew they were made for each other. They were married May 8, 1976 and enjoyed almost 48 years of married life.

Kent worked for Allied Mills (Wayne Feeds) in East St. Louis, IL as a quality control supervisor for two years. In 1977, Kent and Angela moved to Martinsburg where he was the assistant manager of Martinsburg Farmers Elevator. In 1980, he began his 35-year career in the seed business as a District Sales Manager, retiring in November 2015.  Kent and Angela enjoyed many trips he earned over the years for being one of the top sales managers.  One of their favorite locations was Hawaii, which they visited once with the company and three times on their own.

Kent was a member of St. Joseph's Church in Martinsburg, Knights of Columbus Council in Martinsburg, Knights of Columbus Bishop Leo Steck 4th Degree Assembly, Quincy Cursillo Family, and Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity. He was a man of great faith in God, encouraging people to come to Church and to attend a Cursillo Weekend. His faith life was made stronger by attending Cursillo which changed his life for the better. It was his strong faith that kept him fighting during his five-year struggle with kidney cancer.

Kent enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.  He liked fishing with his grandsons, driving around on his Gator, growing vegetables in his garden, and watching Cardinals baseball, Chiefs football and Mizzou Tigers.  He and his wife started the tradition of season tickets to Mizzou when his son Jeff started at the University as a freshman, and some of his family continues to this day.

He is survived by his wife Angela of the home, two sons, Dan of Huntsville, MO, Jeff (Julie) of Effingham, IL and a daughter Melissa (Jason) Young of Mexico, MO; six grandchildren: Sean, Hannah, Marshall and Cecelia Buckman all of Effingham, IL, Cassandra and Alex Young of Mexico, MO; his mother, Mae Buckman of Shelbina, MO;  a sister Sharon Buckman and two brothers, Gale (Pat) Buckman, Mike (Barb) Buckman all of Shelbina, MO; and brother-in-law Russ Wojtkiewicz of Parkville, MO.  He also is survived by several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his father J. Robert Buckman, step-father Edward Buckman, a sister Mae Beth Wojtkiewicz and three infant sisters, brothers-in-law Robert Paul, Ralph Graham III, David Aulbur, Joe Aulbur, sisters-in-law Susan (Shinn) Aulbur, Nancy (Stone) Aulbur, and nephews, Jacob Graham and Damon Owen.

Memorials can be made to St. Joseph Church, St. Joseph Cemetery or Quincy Cursillo. All may be sent in care of Arnold Funeral Home, 425 S. Jefferson Street, Mexico, MO 65265.