Albert William Buckley, Jr

Surrounded by loved ones and at peace, Al Buckley left us on a sunny afternoon inOctober. He assures us he is gone, but his spirit and great humor will remain as clearand bright as that autumn day.
Born November 23, 1943 in Monroe, Louisiana, to Albert and Marguerite HolladayBuckley. His love of hunting and fishing was fostered by his father and grandfather and remained with him throughout his life. His greatest joys were running a pack of greatbird dogs, early dawns in a freezing duck blind, a mess of catfish caught on a trotline,flowers Greek Seasoning and good Scotch… not necessarily in that order.
After service in the United States Marine Corps,, he graduated from Middle TennesseeState with a BA in Marketing and a Master’s in Business Administration. Pursuing acareer in real estate development with R. C Mathews, he realized the need for a hybridstyle of warehouse facility termed flex space and subsequently formed Buckley andCompany Real Estate Inc.with his partner, Jo Buckley.
Buckley and Company and John W. Nelley created Nashville Warehouse Investorswhich developed state-of-the-art office distribution centers, most notably AirparkBusiness Center and Crossroads Industrial Park -- ultimately totaling over 3.5 millionsquare feet of business and office space. In 2005, Al was awarded the Legacy Awardfrom the National Association of Office and Industrial Parks.honoring his impact on thedevelopment and management of industrial properties in Nashville, Tennessee.
Real estate development never eclipsed his love of the land and water. With theownership of a farm bordering the Duck River and then a 1700 acre natural preserve inHouston County, Al continued his interests in small game, upland game and deermanagement.
Serving on the Board of The Tennessee Wildlife Federation, his farm annually hostedthe Tennessee Governors Dove Hunt, its signature fund-raising event.
A car accident in 2004 resulted in a spinal injury which presented him with the lifetimechallenge of wheelchair mobility which he conquered with grace and humor. Hisspecially modified trucks always had a duck call in the glovebox and a rifle rack in theback. There was no dry creek bed or overgrown field that could match the reckless skillof his customized John Deere tractor.
Al is survived by his mother Marguerite, aged 103, his children, Bill Buckley( Leslie) andhis granddaughter, Dylan Sydney Buckley, his daughters Allison ( Rick) Makatche,Maggie Buckley and stepdaughter, Whitney ( Jackson) Norman and their children Jet,Josie and Jack. He is also survived by his brother Don ( Annie) Buckley and theirchildren Jennifer and Clay, sister Melinda ( Tom ) Bishop and their children Coleman,Justin and Chase His wife, Lee Smith Buckley, survives and was his great love andcomfort in the final days.
Known to us unforgettably as Big Al, he will always stand tall in our memory.
A Celebration of Life to follow at a later date at his home, appropriately calledKnucklehead Farm.