Buford "Boots" Madison

Buford “Boots” Franklin Marine Madison was born December 16, 1936 In Louisville, Kentucky to Buford and Jewell Smith Madison. They moved to Prescott at a young age and he grew up in Prescott. He attended the Prescott schools. The family moved to Wickenburg, AZ. He worked for a Print shop when he was 17. Boots met Kathy Boyd while they were both living in Wickenburg. They were married August 30, 1963 in Wickenburg Arizona. They have been married for 54 years. Their first child was a daughter Kathy Marine Madison on June 4, 1964. Two and a half years later they had a son, Ron Boyd Madison, born on January 5, 1966. They adopted a baby boy in September of 1975. They were all sealed as a family in the Manti Temple on March 6, 1976. He loved hunting. Every year he would hunt with his bow for elk, deer, Javalinas and, on occasion fish. He loved to go hunting with us as well. As a family, we would compete with our bows and Boots always got some kind of trophy. During summers, we would go camping and fishing. A fond memory was taking freezing showers in the waterfall at Christopher Creek. We did a night hike down to Havasupai Falls with family and friends. Both Boots and Kathy were members of the Over the Hill Hikers. The last family vacation we planned to go on together was to Yellowstone National Park. At least, we thought we were going to. The morning we were supposed to leave, Kathy Marine came down with the chicken pox. Boots called into work to see if he could postpone his vacation and work for two more weeks. Two weeks later we drove up to Yellowstone Park. But then Ron broke out in chicken pox. He was confined to the camp trailer. Boots worked for APS as his life’s career. He retired at the age 65, but went back to work as an inspector a year later. He retired again, but was asked to come back as an inspector part time. He ended up working 40 hrs. or more. Finally, at the age of 72, he retired for good, even though he was asked to stay. APS guys loved being around Boots. On weekends, days off, and even after his retirement, he volunteered at the Tenney Ranch. He really enjoyed working on the ranch. He loved working with horses and being in the outdoors. Boots had a testimony of Jesus Christ, His prayers showed the he loved our Father in Heaven. He knew that the Lord was in charge of his life and it was all right if the Lord needed him to come home. He was proud of and supported his grandsons who served missions and his granddaughter who is currently serving in Japan. He loved his eternal family. He loved his wife Kathy with all his heart. He was always a gentleman to her. He would open the car door for her even when he couldn’t drive any more. He would walk around to open the door, have her in the car first, and then walk around to get into the passenger side. He knew that Kathy loved school and encouraged her to go do what she wanted.  One piece of advice he gave that stuck with his kids was “It is easier to fill up the car at a half of tank then it was when it is empty. Then you don’t get stranded.”He was survived by brother Robert L. Madison, his wife Kathy Boyd Madison, daughter Kathy Marine McGee (Rance McGee), Ron Boyd Madison (Kelly Madison), sister-in-law Karolee Bonham, brother-in-law Kraig Boyd (Norma Boyd), 7 grandchildren, 8 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.