Edward Vincent Buchanan

Ted Buchanan (putterer extraordinaire) died while napping on his sofa after 100 years and 7 months of having an eventful and happy life. Ted was born in Grande Prairie, Alberta to Edward Ettershank Buchanan and Christene Kvarnberg in November, 1925. Always a bit of a rebel and mischief-maker, Ted left school after grade 9 and eventually lied about his age so he could enlist in the navy. He was mostly stationed on the east coast of Canada. He eventually came back to Alberta and settled in Lethbridge, where his parents were living. When he was 28, he met and later married Evangeline Jansen (Van Buchanan). He held a variety of jobs, mostly sales in hardware stores, including Eaton's Department Store in Lethbridge. He was hired as a jail guard at the Lethbridge jail, a union job with benefits. This greatly helped his family, as he had 3 daughters by then. During this time he became more interested in unions, left-leaning politics, and the environment. He was a union staff rep for the Alberta Union of Public Employees for several years before retiring. Ted's first marriage did not last, and in 1979 he married Geraldine (Gerry) Buchanan (Maier/Hart). They continued to live in Lethbridge. Gerry came with 3 adult daughters so once again, Ted was surrounded by females, which never seemed to bother him. Ted and Gerry were able to retire and spend oodles of time camping (taking two very memorable long camping trips to the east coast of Canada and to the Yukon), berry picking (Ted's huckleberry pancakes were a much requested brunch item), fishing, hiking, and donating time to their favourite causes. Ted read many publications that kept him informed about the injustices around the world, and always tried to impart how important it is so stop thinking about yourself and do something good for the environment or those who suffer from cruel governments. If you answered a phone call from him while certain premiers were in charge in Alberta, well, you could put your feet up and just let him go on and on and on. Gerry predeceased Ted in 2015 and with no family remaining in Lethbridge, he decided to move to Victoria, BC, where one daughter and one step-daughter live. He happily settled into life on the West Coast, enjoying some gentler hikes, blueberry picking, having meals at one of the two daughter's homes (which he devoured with gusto, no matter what was put in front of him, with a glass or two of wine), beer and fish and chips at the Legion, and making friends in the Alexander Mackie seniors home in Langford, BC. He had several "crushes" on some lovely women who also lived at the Mackie--he never stopped looking for wife number three! These were harmless diversions because, as we all reminded him, most women of that age are not interested in some old guy anymore and just want to be friends. Over the years on the island, he also enjoyed many visits to Port Alberni where his eldest daughter lives. Buying and cooking fresh oysters was always on the menu when he visited her. The reference to the "putterer extraordinaire"? There was almost never a time in Ted's life when he wasn't fixing something, building something, or painting something. If he came for a visit, you had better have some projects lined up to keep him busy. Some projects took an excruciatingly long time because he was also a perfectionist, so we all had to learn to be patient.

Ted is survived by his first wife, Van Buchanan, and their three daughters: Rosemarie Buchanan, Katherine Buchanan (Robb Smith), Christine Buchanan (Doug Nowlan); grandchildren Ursa Hawthorne, and Eric Buchanan (Dana Bay); great-grandchildren Benjamin MacFarlane and Garnet Hawthorne. He is also survived by step-daughters Penny Henzig (Peter Milburn), Crystal (Mike) Manson, and Carol Maier; grandchildren Haylee (Brody) Pierson, and Joel Manson; great-grandchildren Sawyer and Beckham Pierson.

No service by request. Do something good for the planet instead.