Throughout his life Walter Franklin “Frank” Buck relished spending time in the outdoors, from building an agricultural career in the Willamette Valley and establishing a family farm in the Woodburn area, to spending many happy hours as an avid sportsman fishing and hunting and piloting his Piper Super Cub.

Frank Buck was born Sept. 30, 1936, in Scotts Mills, Ore., to parents Walter Earnest Buck and Mae Elizabeth Maner Buck. He grew up in the St. Paul community and graduated from Newberg High School. 

On June 23, 1956, Frank married Shirley Brown of Broadacres, and together they settled in Woodburn where they raised five children and established a family grass seed farm, operating today as Blue Sky Farm. Also, during his career, he co-founded North Valley Seeds, Inc., a seed cleaning business and participated in the Delta Barley Project in Alaska. In 1996 he relocated to Burns, to reside closer to the hunting and fishing grounds he loved and enjoyed so much. 

Frank lived in Burns until 2022, when he and his long-time companion Caroline Hennessy moved back to Woodburn to be closer to family. On Aug. 18, 2026, Frank passed away in Tualatin, Ore. Survivors include his five children, Cindy, David (Trina), Cameron (Susan), Brian (Pam) Buck, and Sandi Buck Sajjadi; 15 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters, Lottie Olson Smith (Mark), and Patricia Olson Davis. He was preceded in death by his parents, and siblings Wilmer, Ralph, Earnest, Inez and Roy Buck. 

A Celebration of Life will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, at Scenic Valley Farms, 12423 River Rd. NE, Gervais, Oregon 97026. There will be an open house from 2-5 p.m., with a message of remembrance given by the family at 3 p.m.