Louise Pauline Buban, 89, of Kirksville, passed away Sunday (November 9, 2014) at the Liberty Hospital in Liberty, Missouri.

The daughter of Anton and Bessie (Sekardi) Buban, Croatian immigrants who journeyed to the U.S., she was born September 10, 1925 in Kirksville, Missouri.

Louise is survived by one sister, Katherine Scudder of Marshall, Missouri, as well as nieces and nephews, Marie King and husband Tom, Donna Grider, Debra Layman and husband Kenny, Chuck Scudder, Martha Greeley, Mary Karen Smith, Mike Buban, Sandi Puentes, Tonya VanCleve and Tony Buban, Jr., and numerous great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; four sisters, Marie Knernschield, Helen Pavesic, Marguerite Prather and Josephine Grider; four brothers, Sam Buban, Steve Buban, Frank Buban and Tony Buban, and one niece Linda Pavesic.

Louise was a graduate from Kirksville High School. She was employed seven years with John Deere in Moline, Illinois. She later moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, and was employed forty-nine years with Whitaker Cable.

Along with her sisters, Josephine, Katherine and Marguerite, Louise was part of the 1941 Kirksville All Star State Women’s Softball Champions and went onto a National Pennant. Louise loved to read novels, books, and spend time with her family, friends and neighbors. She enjoyed a good story and was gifted at telling colorful stories of the days growing up in Kirksville. Louise had a good sense of humor and a loved for dogs.

She most loved her St. Louis Cardinals and recently became a Kansas City Royals fan. She also coached women’s softball teams in St. Joseph, Missouri. Through the decades she mentored many young nieces and nephews in the skills of baseball and softball. She was truly in a “league of her own”.

Funeral services will be held 2:00 p.m. Saturday (November 15, 2014) at Travis-Noe Funeral Home in Kirksville. Family will receive friends on Saturday for one hour before the service. Interment will follow the service in the Mary Immaculate Catholic section at Highland Park Cemetery in Kirksville.

Pallbearers will be Kenny Layman, Chuck Scudder, Brian King, Colton Layman, Ryan Layman and Tom King. Honorary pallbearers will be Rick Armstrong, Karen Armstrong, Dolly Frkovich and Minnie Sykes.

Expressions of sympathy in memory of Louise Buban may be made to Helping Hands Mission. Memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis-Noe Funeral Home, P.O. Box 306, Kirksville, MO 63501.