Mitzi Gray Budd

MITZI GRAY BUDD OBITUARY

April 29, 1932 – March 29, 2023
Peacefully and surrounded by her family, Mitzi Yvonne Budd went to the House of the Lord on March 29, 2023 at the age of 90. She was born on April 29, 1932 in Washington, D.C. to Vernon Murell Gray and Francis Flava Virginia Gray (Moran). She was a dedicated and loving wife and matriarch to her 62 surviving family members.

Mitzi was preceded in death last April by her beloved husband of 70 years, Bernard Budd. She is survived by her adoring family and will be lovingly missed by them all. These 62 surviving family members include her 10 children and their spouses: Michael Budd, Becky and John Stocker, Mark and Kim Doyle Budd, Brian Budd, Mary Beth Budd, Melanie and Brad Hansel, Bridget and Robert Cross, Bruce Budd, Michelle and Bill Munch and Melissa and Jim Greene. Mitzi is also survived by her devoted 29 Grandchildren and 8 Great Grandchildren.

Mitzi grew up in Chanute, KS where she and her brother, Thomas, were raised by their aunts Attys and Amy. Mitzi married her high school sweetheart, Bernie, on August 6, 1951. Mitzi operated a dance studio with her aunts. Her students, including her children, famously performed a dance rendition of “Pistol Packin' Mama.”

In 1967, Mitzi and Bernie moved with their 8 children from Kansas to Fort Lauderdale where they had two more children. Her ten children all graduated from Cardinal Gibbons High School.

In the summers, Mitzi loved spending time at her log cabin retreat in Sevierville, Tennessee where she enjoyed spotting the occasional wild black bear,
gardening, cross stitching, making homemade jams, and hiking the Smoky Mountains. Mitzi never missed the opportunity to celebrate birthdays, recitals,
games and school graduations of her family members.

A private funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:30 AM on April 26, 2023 at St. Anthony's Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL followed by her internment at the National Cemetery in Lake Worth, FL.

Memorial Donations may be made in Mitzi Budd's name to the Alzheimer's Association at https://www.alz.org/

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