Merle Dean Buckmaster, age 84, of Shawnee, OK, passed away on Aug.
14, 2024, in Oklahoma City, OK. She was born April 30, 1940, in Gerty, OK, to R.B. and Maymie (Sanford) Gentry. Merle was raised in Gerty until she moved to the Shawnee/Tecumseh area for most of her life. She graduated from Tecumseh High School, Class of 1958. Merle and her husband Paul lived in Shawnee, OK, where they were married on Dec. 12, 2002. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of her life. Her best days were spent sitting on the front porch watching them play in the yard, attending all of their sports or school functions, or giving them all the snacks and candy they wanted. She loved gardening; she was so proud of all of her flowers. Watching OU sports and cheering on her Sooners is where you’d find her if a game was on. Thunder Basketball, too. If she wasn’t at home, you’d likely find her eating at Bandana Reds or catfish somewhere with Paul. She also enjoyed cooking; Thanksgiving dinner was her favorite to make. She always made sure to make extra, so the grandkids had leftovers to take, and the neighbors were fed, too. That’s who she was: a caretaker…kind, hilarious when she didn’t mean to be, a good neighbor, a good friend. She welcomed everyone in the door and made them feel like they belonged. She loved visiting with people; she rarely went anywhere that she didn’t see someone she knew.
She would visit for a while until you heard, “Well, Paul Gregory, let’s go home!” Because that’s where she loved being too.. at home, with Paul and Cali, their Yorkie that they both adored. She will be so greatly missed by all who knew her, and the world will miss her light (and her sass, too). She was one of a kind, and anyone who knew her was better off for it.
Merle is preceded in death by her parents, R.B. and Maymie Gentry; brothers Orville, Randy, and Sheldon; sisters Laverne, Monnie, and Beverly; son-in-law Russ Nordstrom; and stepdaughter Paula Buckmaster.
She is survived by her husband Paul Buckmaster; brother, Dee (Brenda); sister-in-law, Chris; daughter, Darla Nordstrom; stepchildren, Greg (Anne), Rocky, Jeff, and Joe; grandchildren, Josh (Mandi), Kelli (Aaron), Kyle, Mitchell (Katelynn), Travis, Rory (Britni), Nicci, Bo (Josh), Josh (Kristine), Amanda, Angie, Lexi, and Austin (Bailey); 29 great-grandchildren; and many extended family and friends.
The memorial service was held Aug. 21, at Cooper Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Mark Guinn, Living Love Christian Center, Shawnee, OK, officiating under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.
