Michael Lynn Buirley passed away peacefully after a short battle with cancer on Thursday, June 27, 2024, in his home at the age of 73.
Mike was born on August 6, 1950, to parents Robert E. & Helen I. (Moser) Buirley in Lima, Ohio and was raised in Jackson Center, Ohio. He graduated from Jackson Center High School with the class of 1968 and attended The Ohio State University, where he played baseball and lacrosse.
In 1971, Mike met his future wife, Pamela Headings at the Jackson Center Community Pool where she was a lifeguard. The pair married on September 14, 1973, and raised three children together. Mike and Pam just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary last year.
Mike began working for the State of Ohio in the Department of Transportation in 1968, and a few years later for the Natural Resources Department as a Park Ranger for Lake Loramie State Park and Grand Lake Saint Mary’s State Park. In 1983, Mike accepted the position as the Wildlife Officer in Knox County. Mike took great pride in working as a Wildlife Officer, he was always professional and respectful and enjoyed ensuring that the Wildlife in Ohio was governed correctly. He met many people and made lifelong friends during the duration of his career. Mike was awarded Wildlife Officer of the Year for the State of Ohio in 1991 and retired after 33 years in 2001. After retirement, Mike worked for Snyder Funeral Homes in Mt. Vernon as a driver and for the Knox County Sheriff’s Department as an appraiser.
A true outdoorsman, Mike could always be found in the woods hunting, in a duck blind on a pond, on a boat fishing, or on his mower, mowing the lawn. Hunting and fishing were ways Mike bonded with his family and close friends over the years. He took many hunting trips and particularly enjoyed waterfowl trips out west and down south. Mike was also a great supporter of his kids’ and grandkids’ sports as they were growing up and as adults and would travel to great lengths to watch them. The rest of Mike’s free time was spent watching old westerns, particularly John Wayne movies and Fox News, traveling on family vacations and trips with Pam to Florida, and spending time with his family and grandchildren.
Mike is survived by his wife Pamela Buirley; his children Matt (Alison) Buirley, Kris (Ashley) Buirley, and Rachel (Kyle) Clinedinst; his grandchildren Nolan, Brynlee, Grayson, Nash, Spencer, Landry, Hazel, and Layla; his sister Sharon Lenhart; his father-in-law Charles Freeman; his sister-in-law Yvonne (Ed) George; his brother-in-law Kevin (Margy) Headings; his nephew Shawn (Amanda) Lenhart; his niece Amy (Brent) Wallace; and other cousins, nieces, nephews, and close friends.
In addition to his parents, Mike is preceded in death by his mother-in-law Kathleen Freeman.
Mike’s family will celebrate his life on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, from 3-6 p.m. in the Snyder Funeral Home-Lasater Chapel, 11337 Upper Gilchrist Road, Mt. Vernon, OH. Immediately following a private memorial service for family and close friends will take place at 6 p.m.