Brenda Kay Buckley

Mrs. Brenda Kay Buckley, 65, died unexpectedly November 19, 2022, at Archbold Memorial Hospital. She was born August 24, 1957, in Fulton Missouri, the daughter of Mr. Kermit and Mrs. Shirley Bock Jennings. Brenda graduated Fort Osage High School, class of 1975. Following graduation, she worked for Hallmark of Kansas City, Kansas as an apprentice bookkeeper. Brenda entered the United States Air Force in November 1978 and served until April 1988, following her marriage to Randy Buckley in January of that year. Sunday, 15 January 2023 is their 36th wedding anniversary.
Brenda was predeceased by her mother. Surviving in addition to her husband, Randy, are: daughter Katelyn Ann Helton, her husband Michael Gage Helton, and their daughter Katheryn Reneau Helton of Thomasville; daughter Sarah Rochelle Buckley of Thomasville; step-son Evan Shae Buckley of Cincinnati, Ohio; sister Linda Lynch and her husband Danny Lynch of Republic, Missouri, with their sons, Timothy Lynch and his family, and Anthony Lynch. She is also survived by her Buckley side of the family: father and mother-in-law Jack and Sonja Buckley; sister-in-law Kerri Bower, her husband John, and their children Jack Donald Bower and Sean Bower, all of Merritt Island, Florida; Kerri’s daughter Becca Willis and her husband Rhett Willis of Tampa, Florida; and sister-in-law Shelli Buckley and her son Jacob Buckley, also of Merritt Island, Florida.
Brenda was an active working mother while she and Randy finished their military career. After the military, she worked for the Armed Forces Exchange service in Germany and Globe Industries in Wichita, Kansas. She moved to Thomasville in 2005 when she and Randy retired, and she was very proud of her work as a child advocate in Thomas County as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for the Southern Judicial Court. She was also a multi-year Thomas County Middle School Band Booster as both of her daughters went through school.
Brenda was an avid camper, needlepoint enthusiast, photographer, and traveler, but her favorite hobby was her granddaughter Katheryn. Her true dedication was to her children, grandchild, husband, home, and pets. Her passion was bookkeeping, which she learned while employed by Hallmark before entering the Air Force. Her family files on their budget and home are the epitome of perfection.
A service of remembrance will be held 12 p.m. Friday, 13 January at Allen & Allen Funeral Home, 110 Hansell Street, Thomasville. Those who wish to remember Brenda in a special way may make gifts in her memory to the Thomas County Humane Society, Saint Jude’s Children’s Cancer Hospitals, or any Heart or Cancer research group.