Betty Lavinia Buchanan was born to Lem (Bud) and Juanita Walton on Thursday, July 21, 1938, in Liberty, Okla. She was known to her family as a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, and aunt. She was also an adoring Nana to 19 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren. Betty relied on her faith in Christ to guide her throughout her life. She passed away from a brief illness on Friday, October 7, 2022, with family by her side.
Family meant the world to Betty. She had two brothers Ray (Thu) and Billy Merle (Kathy), along with three sisters Eyvonne Garrett, Burma Daley (Jim) and Nancy Cleveland (Charles), who were also her best friends. She went to school in Kemp, OK, where they grew up. Betty was very proud of her four children Donell Loyd (Don), Kathy Reagan (Jack), Pam Carter (Ronny), and David Williamson which she raised in Durant, OK.
Betty’s friendly nature steered her into a career of customer service. One summer when she was working at the Best Yet in Durant a customer asked her on a date. That date turned into many long-distance phone calls, and eventually Betty and Willie Buchanan would marry on Oct. 27, 1982. They made their home in Edmond, OK, along with Willie’s children Billy (Michella), Kim, Lisa Muhle, Kristi Yin (Herb) and Lori Rieck (Burt).
Together Betty and Willie ran the family grocery store, Food Fair IGA, in Oklahoma City until 1987. Afterwards she continued working for Hallmark and The Health Food Store, as well as, assisting Willie in real estate. She enjoyed caring and cooking for her family, boot scootin’, playing dominoes, and cheering on the OU Sooners and the OKC Thunder.
Besides her parents, Betty is pre-deceased by her son, David; sister, Eyvonne; brothers: Ray, Billy Merle; sister-in-law, Betty June Shaw; brothers-in-law: Charles Cleveland, Carl Buchanan (Betty), and Butch Boucher.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Willie; daughters: Donell, Kathy, Pam, Kim, Lisa, Kristi, Lori; son, Billy; sisters, Burma and Nancy; as well as a large extended family, including brother-in-law, John Buchanan (Barbara); sister-in-law, Jean Boucher; many nieces and nephews and loyal friends.
The family would like to give special thanks to Betty’s hairstylist Dennis, Drs. Richard Lane (P.A. Carla), Kerry C. Owens and Gary Fox, and Nurses Shelly and Alesha.
Services will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at Brown’s Funeral Service chapel, 4900 West US Hwy 70 in Durant, Okla.
A visitation will be held one hour prior to funeral services.
The family ask for any attendees to please wear a mask.
Arrangements under the direction of Brown’s Funeral Home.
