Guy "Bud" Botsford

Guy “Bud” Botsford, 87, of Portland, died Thursday, November 1, 2018.  Mr. Botsford was a native of Reydel and a resident of Portland for over 66 years.  He was an outstanding football player for the Pine Bluff High School Zebras and went on to play football at Arkansas A & M, now the University of Arkansas at Monticello, where he also ran track.  He was a cotton, soy bean, wheat and rice farmer for 50 years.  Mr. Botsford was a Mason for over 60 years, having become a 32nd degree Mason and was a member of the Hamburg Prairie Lodge #465.  He was a member of the Portland United Methodist Church and he enjoyed hunting with dogs, golfing, bowling, tennis and was well known for his wonderful biscuits.

He is preceded in death by a son, Guy David Botsford; his parents, Murphy Botsford, Emma Brownlow Mazanti and Forte Mazanti and two sisters, Betty Gay Shuler and Marian Hill Landen.

He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Gay Posey Botsford of Portland; his children, Johnny Botsford and wife, Margaret, of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Leo Botsford and wife, Laura, of Portland, Don Botsford and wife, Karla Hutton, of Franklin, Tennessee, Jimmy Botsford of Amity, Beverly Ramchandani and husband, David, of Hot Springs, Angela Riley of Ewok, Alaska and Melody Meaux and husband, Troy, of McGehee; his sisters, Emma Jean Poole and husband, Bain, of McGehee, Lenetta Grantham and husband, Bill, of Montara, California and Janie Darr of Rogers; 15 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews.

A Memorial service will be 2 p.m., Sunday, November 4, 2018, at the Portland United Methodist Church with Rev. Toby Austin officiating.  A private burial will be in the Portland Cemetery.  Honorary pallbearers are Troy Meaux, Richard Stock, Steve Clement, Dave Hackett, David Pamplin, Graham Pamplin, Billy Grimes, Bill Wilson, Gerry Conley and Vernon Clifton.  Memorials may be made to the Portland United Methodist Church, PO Box 400, Portland, AR  71663 or to the Portland Food Pantry, c/o Judy Sadler, PO Box 367, Portland, AR 71663.  

Visitation will be Sunday after the service, in the Portland United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.

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