Bernard Buckley Obituary

Buckley
Bernard "Buck" James
Buckley
June 8, 1960
March 29, 2022

Bernard "Buck" James Buckley entered in to eternal rest on Tuesday, March 29th, 2022, after a long, and still too short, battle with early onset dementia. He was 61.
Buck was born June 8th, 1960 in Biloxi, MI. The son of an Airman, he was afforded the opportunity to live all over the world growing up. He attended Catholic schools in Italy, rode dirt bikes in the plains of Australia, and eventually settled with his family at the base of Pikes Peak in Colorado. He attended Mitchell High School and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. He was a proud Eagle Scout, like his father before him.

An enthusiastic traveler, photographer and Master diver, Buck traversed the entire North American continent and beyond. He was passionate about photographing his family, his friends, his work, and his adventures traveling and diving. He dived all over the world, from Honduras to Cozumel, and loved to tell the story of his first open shark dive, where he wasn't required to pay until his safe return to the boat.
Buck was strong, witty, intelligent beyond measure, and loved to play sports. He was an avid skier, played in adult softball leagues, and found great joy practicing hockey, basketball and soccer with his children. He once attempted to snowboard with them, and quickly decided skiing was more his jam, but he never said "no" to any challenge.

In 1989, Buck married Donna Jean Baylor, the love of his life. They met at Cowboys, and their love of Country music and each other kept him with us for as long as his heart could hold on. "Like two sparrows in a hurricane, trying to find their way. The world says they'll never make it, but love says they will." They did. He often joked that he fell in love with Donna, but Grandma Bertie sealed the deal with her cooking. Often her assistant in the kitchen, Buck loved to cook and bake, and took great pride in decorating alongside her for holidays, where he built their famous and everlasting Christmas Village. He specialized in French Toast and eating Grandma's peanut butter cookie dough before it was baked.

His spirit was young, his body was strong, and his children kept him youthful. Music thrilled him, he loved to dance to country music and go to concerts, rain or shine. He knew every Elton John ballad, rocked out to Journey and Santana, loved Beyoncé and Gary Allen alike. He was a cowboy and he was rock n' roll. He stayed up late nights to work on school projects, Boy Scout derby cars, science fair entries, and spent hours upon hours at the dining room table working out math homework, after proudly working as a mover and blue collar business owner right here in Olympic City, USA. He never stopped. He never quit. "Any job, big or small, do it right, or not at all."

In addition to his loving wife Donna, Buck is survived by his children, Brandy (Chad), Bertie (Brian), Russell (Zeta), Sara, Heather, and Nicholas. His grandchildren, Wyatt, Brooklynn, Breckin, King, and Apollo. His sisters Isabella, Elizabeth, Catherine (Don), and Patricia. His mother and father-in-law, Bertie and Edward LaMar, and brothers-in-law Bob, Lon, and Carl (Diane). He also has numerous nieces and nephews that he loved and cherished. He was preceded in death by his mother, Grace M., and father, Charles L. Buckley.

A Celebration of Life will be open for family and friends on April 22, 2022, at New Life Church at 1:00 PM MST located at 11025 Voyager Pkwy, Colorado Springs, CO 80921.