Born December 29, 1925 in Ironton, MO, the first of three children, Buckey was the son of Raymond Alexander Buckey and Myrtle Chlorine Amsden.
He served honorably as a U.S. Merchant Marine during World War II and in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Buckey was proud of his service and especially of his time serving in the U.S. Army Honor Guard (The 3rd U.S. Infantry, The Old Guard) in Arlington National Cemetery.
He met Martha Louise Buckey in 1949 and soon after knew she would be his wife. The wedding invitations were printed, but before they had the chance to tie the knot, Buckey was drafted into the U.S. Army. After a year of military service, the pair finally married in a small ceremony June 15, 1951, while Buckey was on leave. They were married for nearly 62 years until Louise passed in 2013.
One of his favorite stories to tell was about their home. When Buckey returned home from the military in 1952, he found Louise had saved every penny of his earnings, which they used as a down payment to build their marital home where they lived for six decades – the rest of their married lives.
He was active in Boy Scouts, served as a deacon at his church, loved traveling and camping, creating pieces with stained glass and ceramics, watching and assisting his wife in her flower garden, listening to the Cardinals and the Royals on the radio, playing pinochle, bingo and watching the Chiefs. After retirement from Puritan-Bennett, he and Louise traveled the country in their RV and enjoyed time with their Jayco friends.
Although they had no children of their own, Buckey was an uncle to dozens of nieces, nephews and the generations who followed. He was revered by his family. While he was indeed the fun uncle who always had a joke to tell, he was also the dependable uncle. He would do anything for his nieces and nephews and the rest of his extended family, stepping in when they needed him most, without any expectation of reciprocity.
Buckey was active in his church home, Independence Boulevard Christian Church. He was a deacon and a board member as well as a Sunday school teacher. Most Monday nights, Buckey could be found serving food to those in need for Micah Ministries.
Buckey is survived by numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, sister Fannie Jean Nixon and his brother Raymond Charles Buckey.
Visitation 9:30-10:30 a.m. Friday, February 18; Service 10:30 a.m. at White Chapel Funeral Home, 6600 NE Antioch Road, Gladstone, MO, 64119. Interment White Chapel Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to The Micah Ministry, https://www.ibcckc.org/the-micah-ministry, Independence Blvd. Christian Church, 606 Gladstone Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64124.
