Nathan Wahoo Buck Jr. went Home to play his most beautiful melody for the Lord on March 31, 2018. He was born on February 22, 1937 in Holdenville, Oklahoma to Nathan Buck Sr. and Alice (McCosar) Buck. Wahoo attended Spaulding Public School until he transferred to Haskell Institute in 1955 where he graduated. Wahoo was a draftsman by trade but began working for Burtons IGA in the produce and meat department. In 1961 he began working for Hobgood Funeral Home for six months but then met his lifelong friends, Jim and Jean Phillips. This began a lifes work of caring for others during the most difficult times in their lives at Hudson-Phillips Funeral Home in Holdenville where he was a funeral directors assistant and ambulance driver. Wahoo took great pride in his work and attention to details at the funeral home and ensured every family knew he cared for them for over 44 years. Playing a melody to bring peace and comfort was something Wahoo enjoyed giving to families. He worked for various other funeral homes throughout Oklahoma during his lifetime. He was a proud Muscogee Creek Tribal Member and served with honor as a Tribal Council Representative of the Bird Clan. Always looking out for others, Wahoo was often called upon to help locate resources within the tribe for other members. He was always willing to locate those resources or work with tribal government to create programs to assist tribal members in need of assistance.

Although working hard was important to Wahoo, he will always be remembered for the melody of praise his fingers would craft on the piano! Wahoo spent his lifetime playing praises to the Lord. He enjoyed being able to play for many churches throughout the country. He began his ministry of gospel singing in 1956 and continued until his Homegoing. Wahoo always played in his own unique style but his musical vision encompassed everything from classic gospel to The Laughing song. Playing for various groups throughout his years brought great pleasure to Wahoo. The Osceola Four was the first group Wahoo was in and was joined by his lifelong friend, Jimmy Anderson and his brother Robert Anderson while they were students at Haskell Institute. If the miles driven to each gospel singing or the stories shared with friends and family or the keys played on the piano could be numerically valued Wahoo’s number would be of the highest. Of course, the group that brought him the most joy was the Buck Family Singers. From a young age Wahoo enjoyed playing with his family gospel singing group. He loved to tell that one evening his father told him to learn to the play the piano because the group needed a piano player. From that point forward, the self-taught Wahoo Buck was an artist at the keys. He could make the piano sing his version of any gospel song. If by chance a song was requested that he did not know, Wahoo would easily adapt and play by ear and never would anyone know that he might not have known the keys to play before beginning the song. The Buck Family Memorial Singing proudly celebrated their 50 year celebration in 2017 and Wahoo was proud to play during the celebration.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Nathan Buck and Alice (McCosar) Buck, siblings Vernon E. Buck, Jake Buck, Raymond Simpson Buck, Jeanette Buck, Otis W. L. Buck, Robert E. Blackie Buck, Johnson W. Buck, and Franklin Douglas Frankie Buck.

Survivors include his children, Sissy Kay Buck, Mitch Buck and Robbie Buck, Michelle Sanchez, grandchildren Greg, Kevin, Jay, Malinda, Kevin, Natalie, Lance, Gavin, Megan, Melissa, several great-grandchildren, siblings Margaret Siegriest and husband Jack, and Leona Buck, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
Source: Phillips Funeral Service