Neil Buchanan

Passed away February 19, 2015. Marcus Neil Buchanan (known as Neil M. Buchanan) was born in June 11, 1932. Neil was born in Miles, WA to Grace Little Buchanan and Edgar Buchanan. He had 5 brothers and 3 sisters, and has many treasured nieces and nephews. He graduated from Hunters High School in 1950 and was drafted into the U. S. Army in 1953. Neil is a member of the Creston Christian Church where his faithful service earned him the designation of elder emeritus. Neil married Myrtle Marie Hellie in May 1954, they had 4 children, Jean, Debbie, Jim & Marc. Neil and Myrtle first lived in Rice, WA, then moved to Fruitland, where Neil logged. In 1958 they moved to Creston, WA where Neil worked on local wheat farms until he tested and was selected for the a rural mail route. Before joining the Army he logged with his family and neighbors, using a team of horses that weighted approximately a ton each. In Neil’s career with the National Letter Carriers Association, he was elected Washington’s first State Steward for the Union in 1971. He served routes out of the Creston, Wilbur, and Chewelah, WA post offices. He enjoyed his travels, covering nearly the entire State of Washington as well as much of the United States going to conferences and national conventions, plus seminars in Washington DC as part of the National Letter Carriers Carriers Association. Neil was a rural letter carrier for 32 years, and held the state steward office for 27 years. Neil’s hobbies were hunting deer & elk and he especially loved camping in the mountains a-long side a creek. He belonged to the NRA and was a lifetime member, as well as a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the American Legion. Neil is survied by his wife Myrtle Buchanan of Davenport, children, Jean Bowen of Broomfield CO., Debbie and Bob Starkey of Creston, Jim & Sandy Buchanan of Davenport, Marc & JeNell Buchanan of Snohomish and 9 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren and two more on the way. Neil is also survived by his brother Dale & Laurie Buchanan of Signal Mountain, TN and his sister in law Selma Buchanan of Spokane, and brother in law Ed Lust of Spokane. He is also survived many treasured nieces and nephews. Memorial Service, Tuesday, February 24, 2015 at 11:00 AM at the Creston Christian Church, Creston, WA. Mr. Buchanan will lie in state at the STRATE FUNERAL HOME, DAVENPORT, WA on Monday, Feb. 23, 2015 from 1:00 to 3:00 PM. Memorials may be made to the Creston Christian Church, Creston, WA. Please sign the online guestbook at www.stratefuneralhome.com. STRATE FUNERAL HOME, DVENPORT, WA is caring for the family