With great sadness, we announce the death of MARION DOUGLAS BUFFALO,

78, of Little Rock, Ark., on November 22, 2022.

Doug was born in Little Rock, Ark., and was raised in Carlisle, Ark.

During his youth in Carlisle, he was known as “Butch” and attended Carlisle High School where he played football, ran track, was a member of Student Council and was the Junior class President. During his senior year, he was awarded with the American Legion Citizenship Award and sang solo, “I’ll Walk with God” at the graduation ceremony. It was also during this time that he met his future wife, Nolen Sue Young Buffalo.

He attended Arkansas State University on a voice scholarship, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in History and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity. He then studied at Kansas State University where he was a Graduate Assistant and received a Master of Arts in Sociology in 1968, and subsequently obtained his Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Nebraska in 1973. He was also an Instructor of Sociology at both Kansas State University and University of Nebraska. After completing his education, he returned to Arkansas, where he became a Tenured and Emeritus professor of Sociology at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, until his retirement in 2001. He was a favorite professor to many and well-known for his love of opening class discussion by asking his students provocative and challenging questions. He had a love and passion for research, teaching research methods and serving as the Director of the Survey Marketing Unit. He authored multiple peer-reviewed publications, co-authored a textbook, and in 1990 was inducted into The Scientific Research Society, Sigma Xi.

He had a lifelong love of sailing and was a member and past Commodore of the Grand Maumelle Sailing Club. He was very involved in the club serving as a board member and teaching classes for “Learn to Sail” and “Learn to Race” programs. He shared his love for sailing by teaching his children, son-in-law, granddaughter, and countless others how to sail and crew for him over the years. He was a competitive and successful sailor winning a national championship title as well as the the Shirley Rush Award for Sportsmanship. He was an avid reader, devouring multiple books weekly. After retiring from competitive sailboat racing, he enjoyed taking a chair, a book and his dog Maggie to Lake Maumelle and settling in to read for the afternoon.

Additionally, he loved woodcraft and carving, and created many beautiful pieces that he gave as gifts to loved ones over the years.

He was a lifelong political advocate for human rights, social support programs and increased educational opportunities. He loved listening to NPR and reading historical, political and biographical non-fiction literature.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Edward Joseph Lamont Buffalo, Sr. and Lydia Maude House Buffalo; and his brother, Edward Joseph Lamont Buffalo, Jr.

He is survived by his high school sweetheart and wife of 56 years, Sue; and children; Shawn Buffalo Ironside (Brett) and Nolen Douglas Buffalo (Sarah); and beloved granddaughter, Lydia Brett Ironside. He is also survived by his brother, William Lee Buffalo (Jean and nephew Dylan); sister, Barbra Sue Buffalo Saugey (Tom and nephew Adam; niece Amie); sister-in-law, Dot Buffalo; nephews, Edward Joseph Lamont Buffalo III, John Buffalo; nieces, Becke Buffalo and Beth Buffalo.

A graveside service will be held in Carlisle, Ark., at the Carlisle Cemetery on November 30, 2022, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his honor to Saint Francis House or KUAR (NPR-local public radio). Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com