Buffalo Burr
August 10, 1949 – April 16, 2016
Buffalo Burr was a member of the Long Nine Cowboys starting in 2008. He began cowboy action shooting after attending a New Shooter Workshop with his wife at Bloomington with the McLean County Peacemakers in 2007 at the urging of Chisholm Cheeks, who brought quite a few new cowboys and cowgirls into the game.
Burr was known for his wry sense of humor and gentle ways and always opted for accuracy over speed in everything he did. He started shooting at age 9 with a .22 rifle which continued to be his favorite, despite trying many other calibers and firearms. He stopped participating in cowboy action matches in 2012 when health issues started to impinge on his abilities and stamina. He continued to load ammo for his wife, Lady Viper, and cheer her on as a spectator while visiting with cowboys and cowgirls at local matches.
The last outdoor activity that he enjoyed the week before he passed away was an outing to his local range, where he and Lady Viper tried out some ammo and had a great time together on a gorgeous crisp afternoon laughing and hitting targets in the sunshine.
Below is his published obituary.
Burr Nelson, 66, passed away at home on Saturday, April 16, 2016, in Bement, Illinois. Burr was born in Chicago, Illinois, son of the late Clyde Nelson and Jeanne (Burrows) Nelson.
Burr grew up in Lincolnshire and Deerfield, Illinois. He graduated in 1972 from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a degree in Math, Music and Computer Science. He went on to work at the University in the Departments of Physiology and Biophysics and the GIS lab for over 25 years. In 2001, he joined Kestrel Technologies, his wife’s web development and IT company, as computer programmer and system administrator, where he worked for the next 14 years.
Two of his great loves were playing and listening to piano music, and playing chess over the Internet with partners throughout the world. He was a voracious reader, an accomplished photographer and a world traveler.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia Dahms; his sister, Kim Soskin (Skip) of San Francisco; his mother-in-law, three brothers-in-law, two sisters-in-law, nine nieces and nephews and his favorite dog.
A private family remembrance will be scheduled at a future date. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Piatt County Animal Shelter in Monticello, or Homeward Bound Pet Shelter in Decatur, Illinois.