Willard – Alan Wynne Summers, 59, passed away peacefully in is sleep, Sunday, April 23, 2023. He was born in Panteg Hospital, Pontypool, Wales, United Kingdom on March 15, 1964, to Jack Wyndham Summers and Marie Doreen Nichols Sinnett.
As a youth, Alan was kind, jovial and loving to all around him. He enjoyed Beechwood Sunday School, Beechwood Park Presbyterian Church. His favorite make-believe was cowboys & Indians while sporting his loud cap guns. He loved being a goalie for his school football team. He always said he would have stayed with football but he did not have the height required. He went on to play at Saries Rugby under 16 and Newport Youth Rugby. He continued into his mid-twenties in Wales playing for Newport Rugby Football Club and Pill Harriers Rugby Football Club as much as he could while working.

Alan continued his education at South Gwent College, Newport and earned Certificates in Building Craft & Services, June 1981 and Plumbing, June 1984. Once finished with his Plumbing Apprenticeship, October 1984 with E. Perman, Ltd of Newport, he became a Self Employed/Sub-Contractor within Plumbing/Construction until 1990. In 1990, he moved to Springfield, MO and worked for Canteen and anything else he could find to stay busy. He started working for Ward Plumbing as a plumber in 1991. In 1994, he began working at Roadway Express, Strafford, MO as Terminal Maintenance and Repair Technician. As a Journeyman Plumber he developed his own company, Plumb-tech Plumbing Services in 1996. He had a keen eye for remolding and decorating in every home and business he touched.

As a young man in Wales, he would listen to Bruce Springsteen Born in the USA album(released 1984) and dream of visiting The States. His wishes came true when he was on a Rugby tour with Pill Harriers to Springfield Rugby Club, Springfield, MO in 1989. He returned for another tour and subsequently moved to Springfield, MO in 1990. He played and coached for Springfield Rugby Club as well becoming the first rugby coach for then named Southwest Missouri State University. His passion for sports continued with West Ham United Football Club and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Alan became a proud AF&AM Mason, February 27, 1995 and would dress in a tuxedo, suit, or dapper clothing when attending meetings. Gate of the Temple Lodge No. 422 is his home Lodge, Springfield, MO. He served as Worshipful Master at Ash Grove Lodge No. 100, 2008-2009 and Solomon Lodge No. 271, 2009-2010. He was also a member of Abou Ben Adhem Shrine and the Shrine Greeters for many years.

Alan was a veracious reader including historical non-fiction, Shakespeare and poetry; a favorite was Welsh poet and writer, Dylan Thomas. Alan was passionate about most genre of music. Some of his favorite artists were Tony Joe White, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen,and the Rolling Stones. He enjoyed attending theatre performances and watching Jeopardy and Cash Cab with his love and her mom. He and his love enjoyed watching foreign movies, TV food channels for ideas and shopping in all ethnic stores for spices and goodies to cook incredible home meals. They had appetites for high-end dinning and crafted cocktails as well as attending food & wine events and intimate pairing dinners. They also enjoyed traveling together. Alan's creativity expanded to working on a novel and continuously practicing on his guitar.
Alan was a charming, charismatic, larger than life character. He had an infectious smile and was full of humor and wit. He had great compassion, love, and a generous heart of gold for his family, mates, Mason brothers, children and animals.
Alan was preceded in death by his grandparents, many great uncles and aunts; his father, Jack; uncle George & aunt Nancy Summers; his stepfather, Richard Sinnett; many uncles, aunts and cousins.

He is survived by his Welsh Family: his loving mum, Marie; uncle John & aunt June Nichols; his sister, Diane & her husband Josh; cousin Jenny & her husband Rob; cousin Nigel & his love Jan; step sister, Kate & her husband Richard; step brother, Martin; his favorite beloved niece, Sara & her love, Frankie; great nieces Eloise and Harley; niece Alyssa; great nephew Tristen and great niece Ayla; his nephew Alex; and countless Rugby mates.
Alan is also survived by his American Family: son, Gavin Lee Summers; Gavin's grandparents; scores of Rugby mates, work comrades, Masonic Brothers, extended family; his mother-in-law-to-be, Sharon Bartholomew Buffington; and his loving-partner, Stacia Marie Buffington.
Memorial Services including a Masonic Service (welcome to all) will be held at 4:00 p.m. Saturday, May 20, 2023 at Gate of the Temple, 1700 North Boonville Avenue, Springfield, MO 65803. Light appetizers to follow downstairs along with sharing memories and personal memorabilia.
Celebration of Life/BBQ/Planting of Memorial Stone will be held at 5:00 p.m., Saturday, Aug 19, 2023 at Springfield Rugby Club, 4035 East Sawyer Road, Brookline, MO 65619. (Rugby Pitch is located next to Brookline Cemetery.)

No burial is planned; his body was cremated by Greenlawn Funeral Home North. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to be made to Gate of the Temple Food Pantry