James Ronald Buchanan

James Ronald Buchanan, 82, passed away from this life and entered his eternal home on Wednesday, June 22, 2016, in Ridgeland, Mississippi. A native Texan, Ron is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Lee; their son, Brooks Buchanan, and his wife Holly Holman Buchanan of Jackson, and their daughter, Leslie Buchanan Krager, of Phoenix; and by his four grandchildren: Britt, Ryan and Holman Buchanan, and Brody Krager, who all affectionately referred to him as “Bucka.”

Ron was born in White Dear, Texas on August 2, 1933, the youngest of six children. He attended Texas A&M University and graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1955 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. After graduation, Ron moved to Houston, Texas and worked with Shell Oil Company. It was in Houston where he met his wife Lee, and where they started their family. Ron’s career path took him and his family to Kansas City, Missouri and back to Houston, before ultimately residing in Atlanta, Georgia to raise their family. In 1979, Ron and Lee moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where Ron continued his work with Ceramic Cooling Tower Company, a subsidiary of the Justin Boot Company. While working on a major engineering project in Los Angeles in 1981, Ron heroically risked his life to help save the life of an unknown woman from a random shooting in a public square. Ron’s selfless act of bravery was but one shining example of his life of service to others.

After his retirement in 1998, Ron and Lee moved to Jackson, MS to live their later years close to family. Ron enjoyed his new life in Jackson, serving as an officer in the Exchange Club, regularly playing golf and bridge with his friends at Colonial Country Club, and attending church and Sunday School and serving the community at Galloway United Methodist Church. Ron was an avid reader and self-made scholar on many subjects, and he was always willing to share his knowledge and wisdom with others to help in any way. He could solve or fix almost anything. Ron’s quick wit and sharp insights drew people to him, and everyone appreciated his soft-spoken sense of humor. One of Ron’s most cherished blessings in his later years, however, was being a part of his grandchildren’s lives as they grew up in Jackson. From elementary school programs to high school graduations, from YMCA youth games and tournaments to Vaught Hemingway Stadium, Ron (Bucka) was always there. Ron’s faithful dedication to his family and community, along with his kind, giving spirit, truly showed he was a humble servant of God and his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 25th, at Galloway United Methodist Church in downtown Jackson. Visitation will be one hour before the service at 10:00 a.m.. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ron’s memory to Galloway United Methodist Church.