Marybeth S. Buchanan

1927 - 2011

Marybeth Stranahan Buchanan went quietly into the night Monday, April 18th, 2011, surrounded by her family at YRMC. Born Maribeth Madeline Stranahan on October 25, 1927 to Carlisle Frances and Amiette in Tillamook, OR. She is preceded in death by her parents, sister, Shirley and husband Walter.

Marybeth is survived by her daughter, Lydia Buchanan; grandson, Zachary and son, Walter Greg (Tiffiney); grandchildren, Clayton (Leah), Rebecca and Dillon.

Marybeth grew up in Tillamook where her family owned Stranahan Laundry and Dry Cleaning. She attended summer camps and spent hours playing at the beach at Netarts, Seaside and Cape Kiwanda. Marybeth attended Wilson elementary, graduated from Tillamook High School in 1945 and attended the University of Oregon. She met her future husband, Walter Dean Buchanan "Sonny" (UO'49) on a bus returning from a ski trip to Willamette Pass. She and Walter were married in Tillamook December 5, 1951. They moved to Tulelake, CA in 1952 and farmed there several years before purchasing land in Dome Valley to farm. While living in Yuma Marybeth worked for O'Malley Lumber. She and Walter then moved to Wellton, AZ to be closer to the farm and she became a full time homemaker. Later she would work as the County Librarian for Wellton. She and the children would spend most summers in Oregon or Louisiana where Walter had purchased additional land in 1964. In 1971 Marybeth and Walter moved back to Yuma, to the home she stayed in for the rest of her life.

Once back in Yuma she volunteered with RSVP and was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award by the City of Yuma. She was active in Beta Sigma Phi Laureate Alpha Beta Chapter and the Assistance League and Operation School Bell. She became active as a tour guide with a local company that ran 'shrimp' runs to Mexico during the winter. Marybeth loved to travel and enjoyed trips to Europe, the Orient, Mexico, Alaska and the East Coast. She spent the summers in Oregon after her children were grown and reconnected with her childhood friends. During the winters she had a standing Mahjongg game every Friday in her home with her friends. Marybeth had been blessed to have great friends and her family is grateful for all those who continued to enrich her life.

Marybeth's ashes will be spread in a private ceremony with family at her farm. A memorial service will be held at Hilton Garden Inn on Sunday, May 1st at 4:00 p.m. with a celebration held afterwards at a family home. Some of her ashes will be placed in the family plot in Tillamook, OR. The family requests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Assistance League or Humane Society.