Buford Leon “BOOTS” Rutherford passed away March 16, 2026 at home with his family after a a long
illness with COPD. Boots was born to Bert and Annie Lee Rutherford June 21, 1936.
After graduating from Trinity School in 1954, he was employed by the State of Alabama Dept. of Transportation and retired after 41 years of service as Equipment Engineer for Division 2 in Tuscumbia, AL.
Boots was preceded in death by his parents, Bert and Annie Lee Rutherford, his sister Murleane
Alexander, his four sons, Jason Lee Rutherford, Buford Lynn Rutherford, Jeffrey David Rutherford and
Joel Todd Rutherford.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Deborah Groves Rutherford, his son Patrick Rand Rutherford,
grand children Tyler Lynn Rutherford (Emily), Andrew Scott Rutherford, Haley Rutherford Harris (Clay),
Taylor Rutherford French (Brandon) and Christian Patrick Rutherford, stepdaughter Lisa Whitlock Floyd,
daughter-in-law, Kim Curtis Jinks, his great grandchildren, Tanner Rutherford, Brody Harris, Nolan
Harris, Raiden French and Killian French, his brother, Larry “Buddy” Rutherford (Harriet), sisters, Larene
Etheredge, Martha Self (Larry) and Charlotte Hall.
No services are planned at this time.
