Barbara J. Buckley

Buckley, Barbara J.
10/27/1942 - 07/04/2011
- MARBLEHEAD - Barbara J. (King) Buckley, 68, of Marblehead and Beverly Hills, California passed away peacefully at Massachusetts General Hospital with her loving family by her side on July 4, 2011.
Barbara was the devoted and loving wife of Andrew ("Andy") P. Buckley. The two celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary in January of this year. In addition to the home they have maintained in Marblehead for 45 years, they have also maintained a winter home in Boca Raton, Florida for 34 years, and their home in Beverly Hills, California for 26 years.
Born October 27, 1942 in Peabody, Massachusetts, Barbara grew up on Wadsworth Street in Danvers. She was the daughter of the late T. Curtis King, a three-term member of the Board of Selectman (Chairman for two years) for the Town of Danvers in the mid-1960s, and the late Mary F. (Henry) King. Barbara was a 1960 graduate of Danvers High School, a member of the baton squad, Homecoming Princess and an avid swimmer. Known in her youth as "Barbie," she met "the love of her life", her husband "Andy" in the summer of 1959 while both were working at Salem Country Club - she as a lifeguard and he as a groundskeeper. Barbara and Andy were crowned King and Queen of the Senior Prom at St. John's Prep . They married in 1962 while they were enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania from which they graduated in 1964.
A savvy and creative woman, Mrs. Buckley launched several business ventures including a boutique doll collection, "The New Girls in Town" and most recently, "The Carolwood Collection," a unique cosmetic line she had developed with her daughter, Bonnie. She actively supported numerous philanthropic and charitable organizations. She was a generous contributor to Stanford University, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The National Kidney Foundation and numerous Catholic charities.
Her zest for travelling and adventurous spirit took her across the world . Maui, St. John and Aruba were her favorites as was her ancestral journey to Ireland.
A devout Catholic, she particularly enjoyed her journey to Rome for the elevation of Cardinal McCarrick at the Vatican, during which she was blessed by Pope John Paul II and took part in the Scavi Tour. Her pilgrimage to Lourdes was immensely enjoyed and described as a "Spiritual Blessing". While she enjoyed the excitement of her travels and the Beverly Hills lifestyle , she always considered the North Shore of Boston "home" and where her heart was .
Known and loved for her charm, contagious smile, tenacious strength, generosity, grace and kindness, she always said her family was her greatest joy and proudest accomplishment. In addition to her beloved husband, Mrs. Buckley is survived by her four devoted children: Fred Buckley of Beverly Hills, California a former star quarterback at Stanford University; Andrew P. Buckley Jr. of Los Angeles, California who is known for playing the role of David Wallace in the NBC show "The Office", Bradford B. Buckley, of Sherman Oaks, California currently a real estate broker in the estate division of Sotheby's International; and Barbara ("Bonnie") J. Buckley Curtis of Sherman Oaks, California former Walt Disney Studios Development Executive.
Mrs. Buckley leaves nine grandchildren: David Buckley, Andrew Buckley III and Sonny Buckley, the sons of Fred and his wife Corinne Buckley; Benny and Xander Banks Buckley, the sons of Andrew Buckley and wife Nancy Banks; Barbara Chloe and Callie Curtis, the daughters of Bonnie and husband Houston Curtis; and Lauren and James Buckley, the daughter and son of Bradford and wife Lori Buckley.
Mrs. Buckley is also survived by her brother and sisters: Thomas C. King Jr. and his wife Janice (Richardson) of Perryville, Maryland and son, Joel; Mrs. Mary Lee (King) and her husband William Ambrose of Danvers and their six children, John, Timothy, Todd, Andrew, Renee and Bill; and Ann Marie (King) Ward of Amesbury, and her three children Amber, Melanie and Justin. In addition, Mrs. Buckley is survived by numerous cousins including her dear cousins John G. King, Esq. of Danvers and Arthur "Arty' Buckley and his wife Tien Truong of Marblehead.
Additionally, Mrs. Buckley is survived by her mother and father-in-law. Dr. and Mrs. Frederick and Marye (Bugler) Buckley of Marblehead and Boca Raton, Florida. Dr. Buckley is a retired obstetrician at Salem Hospital. Barbara is also survived by her brothers and sisters-in-law: Dr. Frederick (Rick) O. Buckley Jr. a bariatric surgeon at Salem Hospital, his wife Pat, and their three children Matthew, Michael, and Sarah; Marye (Buckley) Moran of Rye, New York and her three children John, Mame and Shelia; Shelia (Buckley) Goggin and her husband Dan of Greenwich, Connecticut and their four children Buck, Justine, Jennifer and Bobby; Brian Buckley of Palm Beach, Florida. Mrs. Buckley was predeceased by her brother-in-law Michael K. Buckley.
ARRANGEMENTS: A visitation will be held on Friday, July 15 from 4-8 p.m. at the Murphy Funeral Home, 85 Federal St., Salem, MA. Her funeral mass will be held Saturday, July 16, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady Star of The Sea Church, Atlantic Ave., Marblehead, MA. Interment will be at the Waterside Cemetery, Marblehead. A celebration of her life will follow at the Corinthian Yacht Club Saturday. For online guest book or additional information please call 781 631 8885 or visit www.MurphyFuneralHome.com.