Howard James "Bud" Farris died Tuesday, March 14, 2006, in Independence, Mo., from congestive heart failure.

Bud was born June 9, 1926, in Brownington, Mo., the son of James Monroe Farris and Ruth Catherine (Blanchard) Farris. Bud was a retired Teamster of 31 years. He was a veteran of World War II and served with the 26th Regiment of the Big Red One at Nuremberg after the war. Bud was a nature lover who enjoyed gardening (all of his relatives prized his tomatoes), collecting music and bird watching.

Bud is survived by his wife, Monas (Minks) Farris of the home; sons, Randy Farris and wife, Rose, of Lake Lotawana, Mo., Bob Farris and wife, Vicki, of PIano, Texas, and Gary Farris of Liberty, Mo.; daughter, Cathy (Farris) Jones and husband, Bob, of Mercer, Mo.; and four grandchildren, James "JP" Patton, AnneMarie 'Annie," Vanessa and Sam.

The family is especially grateful for the Vitas hospice care Bud received during his last days. This included many nurses, but especially Vince Friedt, Amy Carr and Valerie Lollis-Boose.

The family will receive visitors from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 16, at D.W. Newcomer's Noland Road Chapel, 509 S. Noland Road, Independence. Then the family will receive visitors at 10 a.m. Friday at the Vansant-Mills Funeral Home, Clinton, Mo. There will be a procession at 10:30 a.m. Friday to Maple Cemetery, Brownington, for a graveside service at 11 a.m. with a Veterans of Foreign War Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Maplewood Cemetery, Brownington.