Jerry Buchanan
Jerry Buchanan, 79, of Rogers, Ark. passed away on the Lord’s Day, May 3, 2020, at Circle of Life-Legacy Village after a battle of Parkinson’s disease. He was born in Cartersville on Jan. 1, 1941.
He moved to Stigler as a small child and graduated from Stigler High School in 1959. During high school, Jerry worked at a drug store in town as a soda jerk. After cleaning up the store he would walk about two miles home after dark. One night a dog started chasing him and scared him, so he got home quicker that night. One summer he started spending most weekends with neighbors, Fred and Bessie Duncan, to help Fred with gardening and yard work. While helping Fred he learned from him and he developed a love of gardening and later became a master gardener after retiring. Fred and Bessie paid for a few piano lessons and he started playing for their church quartet and traveled throughout Haskell County.
Immediately after graduating high school, he and his Uncle Don went to the recruiting office to enlist in the Air Force. The Air Force recruiter was not available, so they waited awhile. They noticed the Navy recruiter had a short line. So, they looked at each other and said, “let’s go for it.” He was in the Navy for four years on the USS Pine Island as a radio man. He would intercept foreign messages and at times forward them on to Washington, DC. He spent time in Guam, Philippines, Hawaii and Hong Kong. After his four years of duty, he returned to Oklahoma and attended college in Wilburton, for one year, then transferred to the University of Oklahoma and graduated with a BA in accounting in 1966. He received his CPA license in 1970.
After graduating college, he went back to Stigler to purchase a car before moving to Bartlesville after receiving a job offer from Phillips Petroleum. There was an amber colored ’66 Mustang at the local dealership that caught his eye. Jerry and Donna had their first date and got engaged in that car, also used it as their wedding getaway car and brought both girls home from the hospital in it. While washing his Mustang on Saturdays he would listen to OU football and cheer on the Sooners, his Alma Mater. In 1966 he met Donna Sue LaBass in church in Bartlesville and they were married on April 15, 1967. They just celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary. He was an accountant for Phillips Petroleum in Bartlesville for 20 years. After retiring from Phillips, he worked for Bank of Oklahoma in Tulsa as an accountant then transferred to the Rogers, Ark. office in 2006 then, retired again. He was a faithful volunteer as a volunteer coordinator at the information desk on Mercy Hospital Rogers campus for 11 years. He loved every moment there and was well loved.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Jim Honeycutt.
Survivors include his wife, Donna, of the home; two daughters and son-in-laws, Mechel (husband Doug) Wisel of Chester Springs, Pa. and Kelli (husband Scott) Eccleston of Bentonville, Ark.; five grandchildren, Quinton, Rylie and Evan of Fayetteville, Ark. and Matthew and Ashley of Chester Springs, Ark.; two sisters, Glenda (husband Bill) Allen of Stigler and Pam (husband Fred) Reed of Broken Arrow; a brother, Wayne (wife Nita) Honeycutt of Stigler and several nieces and nephews. A special recognition to a dear friend, Larry Atchley. Also, to Angie of Apple Blossom Retirement Community for her love and support.
As a young boy, Jerry accepted Jesus as his savior. He loved and served the Lord his whole life as a church pianist, deacon, church treasurer, a finance director and sang in the choir.