Tony, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather passed away December 18, 2023, at the age of 93.

Tony was born on a farm in Bendon, Michigan on August 6th, 1930, to Ignatz and Ella (Pallo) Buday, seventh in the line of 9 siblings.

Tony graduated from Honor High School in 1948, where he received varsity letters in basketball and baseball. In 1950 he started his five-year apprenticeship in the plumbing industry which was interrupted by the Korean War. He joined the U.S. Marine Corps and served for two years as a Marine Detachment Guard aboard the U.S.S. Rochester. He had one deployment to the Korean War waters and then was discharged to the U.S.M.C. Reserves in 1956. He retired after 39 years in the U.S. Naval Reserves as a Lieutenant. Tony was awarded many medals and letters of military commendation while serving. Tony always followed the U.S. Marine Corps General Chester Puller's famous saying, "Do something---Lead--- Follow or get out of the way".

After 24 years with a local contractor, Tony had the courage and determination to start a Mechanical Contracting business, ABI Mechanical Contractors. With many L639/L85 employees, his company was very supportive of Local, State and National contracting organizations. He devoted more than half a century to the Mechanical Contracting industry. When he was Chairperson of the Michigan State Plumbing Board, our state was operating on a plumbing law that was enacted in 1921. With his determination and the help of many, the board got a new updated law passed in 1990, a feat which many people said could not be done.

Tony met his loving wife Helen I. Merriam at Traverse Heights Elementary School, where she was a teacher and he was repairing a heater in her classroom. They were married on October 22, 1955, at Immaculate Conception Church by Monsignor Passeno where they have been members since 1953. He is proud of his four sons, three grandsons and one great granddaughter. He enjoyed attending school events that his sons and grandsons were involved in. He also loved gardening, landscaping and being in the woods cutting wood for his boiler.

Tony participated in many facets of business and public life. He was Chairperson of the Grand Traverse County Board of commissioners for 2 years and board member for 12 years. While on the county board he was instrumental in starting the Grand Traverse Pavilions complex, including the cottages, that he resided in for several years. He also was appointed to the Michigan State Plumbing board, serving 16 years and being Chairperson for 6 years. He was president of numerous boards and was immensely proud to be a charter member and the first president of Traverse Bay Sunrise Rotary Club. He sat on many other boards and commissions including the Cherry Capitol airport Commission for 6 years in which he was a staunch supporter for the new terminal building that is a jewel in our community.

In his later years Tony said that one of his greatest achievements was donating land to what is now known at Camp Buday on US-31, which is on his original family farm. It was built to be used by the Young Marines, The Marine Corps League, the community and other Veterans organizations for meetings, training and schooling.

Tony is survived by his wife of 68 years, Helen, their four sons Michael (Michele), Christopher, Jon and Jeffrey and three grandsons, Andrew (Danelle), Jonathan (Alana) and Nicholas; great grandchild (Natalie); his brothers Edward (Joan) Buday of Charlevoix and Lawrence Buday of Petoskey, and many nieces and nephews. Tony was preceded in death by his parents Ignatz and Ella Buday, two sisters, Irene and Therese, and brothers Harry, Rudolph, Joseph, John and Arthur.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 22, 2023, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 11:00am. Visitation will begin one hour prior. Please visit https://www.immaculatetc.org/livestream to watch the service if you are unable to attend in person.

Interment of his remains, where he will receive full military honors, will take place in the spring of 2024 at Linwood Cemetery in Long Lake.
Memorial contributions in his honor may be directed to The Marine Corps Leage (Yagle Brother Det 165 PO Box 347, Interlochen, MI 49643) or to Immaculate Conception Church Building Fund.

The family would like to thank the staff at the Grand Traverse Pavilions Willow Cottage for their years of excellent care and also to the staff at Culver Meadows and Hospice of Michigan who cared for him in the final months of his life.
Please visit www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com to share your memories and condolences with his family.