Terry Buffalo
August 25, 1955 – May 31, 2026
Competing at the North American Chuckwagon Championship in High River, Alberta in 2001
The World Professional Chuckwagon Association marks the passing of former chuckwagon driver Terry Buffalo, who passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2026, at the age of 70.
Terry began his chuckwagon career in the late 1970s driving pony chuckwagons, winning several show championships over the next 22 years. As the new millennium approached, the former Chief of the Samson Cree Nation sought a new challenge and made the move to thoroughbred chuckwagons. After qualifying through the Qualification Run-Off, he made his WPCA Pro Tour debut at the 2000 Grande Prairie Stompede.
He spent the 2001 season on the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA) circuit, where he finished 21st in the final standings. Terry returned to the WPCA Pro Tour in 2002 before moving back to the CPCA in 2003, enjoying the best season of his career. He finished 17th in the standings and qualified for his first sudden-death Championship Final Heat at the 2003 Colonial Days Fair.
Terry returned to the WPCA Pro Tour in 2004, and in 2005 earned his first day money as a WPCA member on the final night of the Colonial Days Fair. He was forced to return to the Qualification Run-Off to earn a spot on the 2006 Pro Tour, where he finished third in the aggregate standings and tied for first in points with Chance Bensmiller and Darcy Flad.
Unfortunately, circumstances did not allow Terry to compete on the 2006 WPCA Pro Tour, and he retired from chuckwagon racing. He later sold his outfit to rookie Codey McCurrach, who used the core of Terry’s outfit to capture the 2007 WPCA Top Rookie Driver Award.
Terry is survived by his wife, Noreen; sons Dennis “Blue” (Geniene) Lightning and Terry Jr. (Tabatha); daughter Lori; adopted sons Clayton Wildcat, Randy Rabbit and Jon Wildcat; 12 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; numerous siblings, in-laws, extended family members and friends.
He was predeceased by his daughter, Chelsey Joe; his parents, Cecile and James Makokis; brothers Ted Makokis and James Buffalo; his mother and father-in-law, Mary and Sam Simon; brother-in-law Irwin Simon; sisters-in-law Gladys Piche and Patricia Soosay; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members.
A Funeral Mass for Terry Buffalo was held on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Catholic Church in Maskwacis, Alberta. Interment followed at Samson Central Cemetery.
Terry Buffalo’s contributions to chuckwagon racing will long be remembered, and the World Professional Chuckwagon Association extends its sincere condolences to the Buffalo family.
Billy Melville
