Fay C. Puffinbarger was born January 16, 1933 to Elmer Ray and Jessie Florence (Terry) Puffinbarger on the family farm near Byron, Oklahoma. Fay attended school at Byron until graduating with the final senior class of Byron High School in 1952. Fay was the sixth of eight children being raised on the farm. As a youth, he attended Union Valley Church where he was eventually baptized in the nearby creek. At the age of 16 his father Elmer passed, leaving his mother Jessie to raise the children remaining at home. Fay's older sister Clytice and her husband Walter played a major role in his high school and college years, helping to ensure he had the opportunity to be involved in all the activities he enjoyed. After graduating from Byron, Fay attended the then Oklahoma A & M College (Oklahoma State University) on a track scholarship. He later attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University in Alva as a track athlete and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in education in December of 1955. While a student at NWOSU, on October 27, 1953, he married Shirley Jean Ackerman. The couple lived in Cherokee, Oklahoma where Fay worked alongside his father-in-law building houses. While living in Cherokee the couple was blessed with their first daughter Teresa Ann. In January 1956 Fay took a job at Camargo Schools where he served as the coach and taught various subjects. During their time in Camargo the family was blessed with son Monte Alan and daughter Karen Jean. Fay also completed his Master's Degree in Education from Southwestern Oklahoma State University while working at Camargo Schools. Throughout his career as an educator, Fay was a very successful coach, especially on the baseball field. Fay coached, taught and served as Principal in both Camargo and Vici school districts. Eventually, Fay left education and worked in sales for Moorman Manufacturing where he sold feed to local ranchers. Working for Moorman's, Fay met and developed many relationships with his customers which lead to close lifelong friendships with dozens of families. He worked with Moorman's until he retired. Fay was a cattleman. He had his own herd he enjoyed immensely, but found just as much joy in helping other close friends with their cattle.

Later, he met Madie Faye Peard and the couple enjoyed an over 30-year relationship marrying on February 23, 2002. Fay and Faye spent their relationship living and working together in Vici, Oklahoma. The couple enjoyed endless trips to the pasture to check the cattle. They also enjoyed many trips throughout the surrounding states. The couple attended the First Christian Church in Vici where they were married and later attended the Vici Church of Christ. Fay was devoted to reading the Word of God, having read it in its entirety numerous times during his period of attendance in the churches at Vici.

Fay was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Jessie Puffinbarger, brother Cy Puffinbarger, brother Hershel and sister-in-law Alma Puffinbarger, sister Clarice and brother-in-law A.B. Vanderpool, brother-in-law Walter Butler, brother-in-law Don Black, sister-in-law Wynona Puffinbarger, grandson-in-law Heath Richmond, great granddaughter Jacee Alexander, step son Mike Peard and step daughter Diana Ferguson. He is survived by wife Madie Faye of the home in Vici, daughter Teresa and husband Danny Smith of Camargo, son Monte Puffinbarger of Camargo and daughter Karen Kuper of Camargo, sister-in-law Cleo McCullough of Enid, sister Clytice Butler of Cherokee, sister Muriel and husband Rev. Jerald Bushman of Enid, brother Loy and wife Anne of Edmond, brother Lynn of Cherokee, also by grandchildren; Rusty and Deedra Puffinbarger, Brandy and Justin Alexander, Jessie and Morgan Young, Dustin and Megan Smith, Tisha and Rex Nunn, Zane Puffinbarger, Kassie Richmond, Nicole Kuper, and Dalten Kuper, great grandchildren; Jack, Luke and Blake Puffinbarger, Jakob and Jett Alexander, Ellis and Asa Young, Hadly and Caroline Smith, Tennessee Lee and Kyler Nunn, Whitney and Blayne Richmond, many nephews and nieces and a host of friends.


Memorials may be made to the Camargo Fire Department and the Vici - Camargo EMS in care of Shaw Funeral Home, P.O. Box 276, Vici, OK 73859.