Mary Lynn Buckley

Mary L. Buckley, 61, Vergas, Minnesota died Tuesday, August 25, 2015 with her daughter by her side at Essentia Health-Oak Crossing, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota after a six month battle with brain cancer. Mary was born on March 15, 1954 to Melvin and Irene (Demarais) MacDonald in Crookston, Minnesota. She was raised and educated in Crookston, graduating from Mount St Benedict High School in 1972. She earned degrees from the U of M Crookston, and Detroit Lakes Technical College. Mary was married to Kurt Buckley on November 28th, 1981 in Austin, Texas. They lived in various areas in the United States during their time together. Mary moved to the Detroit Lakes area in the early 90's to work at Essentia Health-St. Mary's, first as a dietitian, and later as a nurse. She had a beautiful symmetry to the way she operated, including all those involved in a plan of care. She had an uncanny sense of how to put people at ease. She was incredibly smart, organized, and above all, she genuinely cared about the well being of others, making her excel in her role at Essentia as an MDS Coordinator, R.N. Mary enjoyed canoeing, fishing, gardening and going on adventures with her long time best friends, the "girlygirls". Time spent with her children and grandson gave her great happiness. She loved her family and was very devoted to them. Mary is a beautiful soul, but she also had soul. She was kind, generous, loved music and dancing, and gave all that she had to those she loved, "her people". Mary is survived by her daughter, Amber Buckley of St. Paul, MN; son, Ben Buckley of Vergas, MN; grandson, Knoxx Buckley; mother, Irene MacDonald Phillion of Red Lake Falls, MN; six siblings, Rod MacDonald of Bemidji, MN; Kathy (Curt) Hannah of Baxter, MN; Mike (Karen) MacDonald of Fisher, MN; Kenny (Mary) MacDonald of Fertile, MN; Dave (Sandra) MacDonald of Crookston, MN; Tom (Kelli) MacDonald of Bemidji, MN; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many more who held a place in her heart. Mary was preceded in death by her father, Melvin MacDonald; her sister-in-law Beda MacDonald; and one of her "girlygirls", DeeDee Stadem.