L. Robert ‘Bud’ Mayfield, 85, of North Platte, NE, passed away June 3, 2014, at Linden Court in North Platte.
Bud was born July 5, 1928, in Lincoln County, NE to Leslie Jasper and Dorothy Chamberlin Orton Mayfield. He attended several Lincoln County grade schools and graduated from North Platte Senior High in 1947.
On March 24, 1956, Bud married Phyllis Dodson at the First United Methodist Church in North Platte and they were together for nearly 58 years when Phyllis passed away in February. When he was in his early 20’s, Bud began working for Sidles Auto Store in North Platte and Lexington. In 1978 they purchased the store and operated it as Mr. Automotive for 20 years. Bud enjoyed his customers and selling parts so much that even after selling Mr. Automotive, he continued to work there until 2012 when he decided it was time to retire.
Bud was actively involved in a number of organizations. He was involved with public education, serving on the Osgood School Board and advisory council at North Platte Senior High. He was an officer and lifetime member of Elks Lodge #985 and was named Elk of the Year in 2002. He was also a member of the First United Methodist Church and had received his 50-year membership pin in November 2009.
Woodworking was one of Bud’s hobbies in life and he shared his talents by teaching woodworking for 15 years as a 4-H leader. He organized the North Platte High School Gun Club with the students qualifying for state level. Bud’s passion in life was playing his saxophone for dances. He played with a number of local musicians and bands including Hadley Barrett and the Westerners, the Riverside Dance Band and for the past several years with the Golden Classics. In 2012, Bud was recognized for his contributions to country music by being inducted into the Nebraska Country Music Hall of Fame.
Bud loved to camp, fish, garden and be with his family and friends. He was known to always have a story or joke to tell, and was accused once of laying awake at night thinking up the stories or jokes.
He is survived by his three children, Rick (Yvonne) Mayfield, of Bassett, NE, Jody (Jeff) Ford, of Elkhorn, NE and Rusty (Bridget) Mayfield, of North Platte; his grandchildren, McKenzie and Bill McCarter and Megan Mayfield, all of Omaha and Mark Mayfield, of North Platte; a great-granddaughter, Charleigh Rose McCarter, of Omaha; his sister, Marjorie ‘Mick’ Hoffmann, of North Platte; sister-in-law, Eileen (Vernon “Sonny”) Shirley, of North Platte; a brother-in-law, Duane (Beverly) Dodson, of Maywood; his very special nieces and nephews and a host of wonderful friends and other relatives.
Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis; their children, Randy Lee and Joni Marie Mayfield; his parents, Dorothy Vencill and Leslie Mayfield; a brother-in-law, Larry Hoffmann; and his parents-in-law, Harold and Dorothea Dodson.
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday, June 6, 2014, at the First United Methodist Church with Pastor Alison Frazier officiating. Interment will follow in the Maywood Cemetery. Visitation will be 8:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday with family greeting friends from 6 to 8 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore. Condolences may also be shared at odeanchapel.com.
The family requests that donations be made in lieu of flowers and plants to the Maywood Cemetery, First United Methodist Church or the North Platte Public Schools Foundation. The family would like to keep his legacy of making beautiful music alive by contributing to the high school band and church music programs. Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore is in charge of arrangements.