Clyde J. Buchanan's Obituary
Clyde J. Buchanan passed away peacefully April 3, 2016 at the age of 92 years, 7 months, 19 days from complications associated with Parkinson’s disease. Clyde spent his last three years living at St. Simeon’s Episcopal Home in Tulsa. The family wishes to recognize and thank the staff at St. Simeon’s and Francis from St. Francis Hospice for their kindness and devoted health care to Clyde. Clyde was born August 15, 1923 in Shawnee, Oklahoma to Douglas Buchanan and Bessie Burt. He spent his childhood on their rural Oklahoma family farm. He and his siblings often talked of how their parents kept the family together and maintained a Christian home thru the difficult great depression and the “dust bowl” years. After graduating from Prairie Valley School in 1941 he convinced his father to sign a waiver so he could join the Army Air Corp and be part of the World War II effort. Clyde was extremely proud of his military service and appreciated his “Veteran” recognition until his death. Later in life Clyde often recounted his war stories when he was stationed in England as a propeller specialist on B-24 bombers and how he met Joyce G. Young (d. 1999) at a London USO Dance. They were married April 21, 1945 in a small garden wedding in Devon England. In 1946 Joyce traveled to the United States to join Clyde in Oklahoma. Shortly thereafter they moved to Wewoka and very quickly welcomed three children. They were devoted life-partners and parents who set an extraordinary example for their children to live up to. In 1958 the family relocated to Tulsa where Clyde worked for Bradley Oldsmobile. In Tulsa they were avid baseball fans, so little league coaching and score keeping consumed their lives for many years as well as attending the minor league baseball games. Clyde worked for General Motors for 36 years before opening his own business in Claremore in the mid 1970’s and the empty nesters moved to Catoosa. When Joyce became ill, he took an early retirement to earn his angel wings by becoming Joyce’s primary caretaker for many years prior to her death. After Joyce died, Clyde became a volunteer for Hospice of Green Country and was recognized for his many accomplishments. In 2005 Clyde and Jewel Baker (d. 2008) married in Sayre, Ok. They never let the grass grow under their feet and were constantly planning their next travel adventure until her death. Clyde is preceded in death by Joyce, Jewell and grandson Jeffrey Buchanan (d. 2004) and siblings Clara, Clifton, Leeroy and their spouses. Survivors include his children, Priscilla and John Lowrance, San Antonio, TX; Jonathan and Judy Buchanan, Fallbrook, CA; and William and Terri Buchanan, San Diego, CA. Grandsons, Brian Buchanan, Christopher Lowrance, Gregory Buchanan, Stuart Lowrance, Trevor Buchanan and Troy Buchanan, two great granddaughters and three great grandsons; and many nieces and nephews. His memorial service is scheduled 10 am Saturday, May 14th at Floral Haven Funeral Home Chapel, 6500 S. 129th Ave, Broken Arrow. (www.floralhaven.com) A lunch reception will follow at the Floral Haven Family Center. The family asked that in lieu of flowers/plants, memorials be made to St. Simeon’s Episcopal Home, 3701 N. MLK Jr. Blvd., Tulsa, OK. or St. Francis Hospice, 6600 S. Yale Ave., Suite 350, Tulsa, OK 74136..
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