Forrest Astor Puckett, 82, of Buford, Georgia, passed away September 22, 2012. He fought the good fight, he finished the race, and he kept the faith. (2 Timothy 4:6-8).
Born March 3, 1930 in Buford, he was a 1947 graduate of Sugar Hill High School (now North Gwinnett) and a graduate of the School of Banking of the South at Louisiana State University.
Mr. Puckett was a veteran of the Korean War where he earned a Bronze Star for his service as a sergeant in the U.S. Army, and he was a Master Mason for over 61 years. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Puckett worked on Main Street in Buford for over 40 years for Buford Commercial Bank in many positions, including its President, and as owner/agent of Forrest Puckett Insurance Agency.
He served for 27 years as a member of the City of Buford Planning and Zoning Board, many of those years as Chairman, and he also served as a member of the Gwinnett County Board of Zoning Appeals. For several decades, he served as a Poll Manager and an Area Poll Manager for both the City of Buford and Gwinnett County elections.
In the early 1960's, Mr. Puckett and other community leaders promoted and expanded Buford's Little League and Dixie Youth baseball programs helping to make them among the best in the state, and the group added girl's softball to its successful programs in 1966.
On July 2, 2000, Mr. Puckett suffered a life-altering stroke, and after rehabilitation, he became a resident of The Bridge Assisted Living in Lawrenceville, Georgia and later Lake Springs Assisted Living in Buford. He was a member of the Buford First Baptist Church.
He was the widower of Grace Dollar Puckett, also of Buford, who predeceased him on September 4, 1993 after 42 years of marriage. He was the youngest child of the late Astor and Lavada Forrester Puckett and the brother of the late Lucille Puckett Wallace, Edna Grace Puckett and Berma Puckett.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law Greg and Renae Buice Puckett (Buford); by his daughter and son-in-law Nena and John Bruffey (Atlanta); by his grandchildren Megan and Ed Bolian (Duluth) and Zachary Puckett (Buford); by his dear and devoted friend Ann Burell Piper and her family; by sisters and brothers in-law Laverne and Donald Kerlin (Buford) and Jalaine and Bill Smith (Buford); by several nieces and nephews; and by a host of other loving relatives and life-long friends.
The funeral will be held Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 1 pm in the Chapel of Flanigan Funeral Home with Rev. Wayne Johnson and Pastor Jerry Bennett officiating. Interment will follow at Broadlawn Memorial Gardens in Buford. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday, September 26, 2012 from 4 to 8 pm.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society; Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF); or Peachtree Christian Hospice, 3430 Duluth Park Lane, NW, Duluth, Georgia 30096.
To express condolences, please sign our online guest book at www.flaniganfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by: Junior E. Flanigan of Flanigan Funeral Home and Crematory, Buford, GA, 770-932-1133.
