William Preston ‘Buddy’ Hefley died in Port Townsend WA on 07/01/2024.
He was born in Fulton KY on 11/19/1949, graduated Fulton High School in 1967, attended Murray State University, and has lived in the Pacific Northwest since the early 1970s, at Shi Shi Beach, Port Townsend, and Chelan.
He is survived by one son, Justin Orion Hefley, his wife Jessica, and their children Carly, 18, and Luke, 16, all of Chelan. He is also survived by two brothers, Charles Reed Hefley of Palmyra IN and Richard Rives Hefley of Marrowstone Island WA.
Buddy first saw Port Townsend in the early 1970s. His younger brother, John, now deceased, had dropped out of high school and run away, resurfacing later in a driftwood community on Shi Shi Beach near Neah Bay. Being the eldest, Buddy was charged with apprehending the wayward brother and returning him to their Old Kentucky home.
After one look at the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest, Buddy sold the car and joined this eclectic community on the beach. When the US Forest Service evicted the Shi Shi residents and bull-dozed the homes, Buddy joined the exodus to Port Townsend and the infamous Town Tavern commune, bar, deli, and refuge for artists of all stripes.
Buddy did make one attempt at convention in 1976 when he met and married Rosemary Moore and had a son, Justin Orion. At this time he worked in apple orchards near Chelan. Buddy and Rosemary later divorced and he returned to Port Townsend where he engaged in varied interests.
Buddy worked as a bartender, arborist, landscaper, wood-worker, musician, apple-knocker, pub-trivia-ringer, patron of arts and artists, and philosopher. Literal philosophy, the love of knowledge, was his passion. Into his final days he was making notes, researching word origins, author’s quotes, and reading voraciously,
All who met him were impressed by the scope of his intellect, and his humor which was just to the dry side of dusty. One over-arching theme of his life was to leave as small an ecological footprint in his path as possible. In this pursuit he recycled EVERYTHING, reusing paper plates and napkins, aluminum foil could last for years, every empty jar was used for storage. Thoreau’s Walden was a first bible for him and he was particularly fond of the chapter titled Economy.
He was preceded in death by both parents, a sister, Laura Elizabeth Hefley, and beloved brother John Clarence Hefley.
In lieu of remembrances he would ask you to support your local artists, buskers especially, and tip your bartender.
A memorial gathering is planned for 2:00 p.m. on 07/21 at Chetzemoka Park in Port Townsend. Listen for the washtub bass.
