Buz Ferrell

BENTON, Mo. -- Buz Ferrell, 63, of Benton passed away Wednesday, June 18, 2014, at the family home.

He was born May 26, 1951, in Cape Girardeau, to Bartley C. and Melba Kirkpatrick Ferrell Sr.

Buz earned a bachelor of arts degree from Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri, in 1973, was a licensed minister, and later received a master's in psychological counseling from Southeast Missouri State University.

He was a licensed professional counselor for the state of Missouri and served as a mental health and substance abuse counselor for nearly 25 years. From 1994 to 1999 he served as southeast regional representative to the Missouri Substance Abuse Counselor Certification Board. In 1999 he was selected as president of the board and in 2000 served as ethics and appeals chairman.

For the last 20 years he has touched hundreds of lives by providing counseling services for various agencies, including Gibson Recovery Center and Associated Counseling Services of Cape Girardeau. He enjoyed camping trips with his son as well as studying history of the west and the Civil War. He was a true cowboy at heart.

Survivors include his mother, Melba Ferrell of Benton; a son, Lance (Jesse) Ferrell of Benton; a special companion of 17 years, Christine Ray of Benton; two daughters at heart, Elizabeth Ray of Newaygo, Michigan, Kathleen Ray of Edmond, Oklahoma; a brother, Larry Ferrell of Jackson; three sisters, Barbara Dick of Lutz, Florida, Janet Smith of Memphis, Tennessee, and Sandy (Clayton) Bryant of Benton.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. Sunday at Amick-Burnett Funeral Chapel in Chaffee, Missouri.

The funeral will be Monday at 10 a.m. at the chapel, with the Rev. Mike Johnson officiating.

Burial will be in Forest Hills Memorial Gardens at Morley, Missouri.

Online condolences may be made at amick-burnettfuneralchapels.com.