Lorraine Buckley (Narramore)

Shortly before his arrest, Jesus told the story of the servant who received five bags of gold and turned it into ten. “Well done, good and faithful servant,” the Master replied. Anna Lorraine Buckley joined her Master in heaven on January 9, departing from her earthly home on Waldo Avenue that she had occupied for nearly 67 years.
Lorraine Buckley was born on March 16,1924 in Kansas City, Mo., to Mary and E.W. Narramore, but lived most of her life in Independence.
Throughout her life, she lived out the mission that Jesus exemplified, dedicating her life and always giving unselfishly to others. A student of the Bible, she read it countless times, and for 67 years she taught Sunday School to children and adults at First Baptist Church, where she was a consistent leader and reliable servant. Among other roles, she regularly served as director for women’s missions’ groups as well as moderator and treasurer for the Blue River/Kansas City Baptist Association. She was a mentor to many young women while leading a missionary group at the church and nearly 60 years later women still speak of the profound influence she had on their lives. Lorraine was truly an example and model for others of what Christ called her to be. Family members loved to hear her pray at monthly gatherings, and she was a prayer warrior even until her last day.

It was in a typing class her junior year at William Chrisman High School that she met a handsome red-haired man named Tom Buckley, who captured her heart. They married in 1947, and for years they continued to attend services at Waldo Avenue Baptist Church. In 1951, they purchased a five-bedroom house across the street. Both enjoyed telling the story of how odd it must have seemed, with only one child, to purchase such a spacious home. But other “fresh ones” soon followed, and in all the couple raised eight children: Tom, Jr. (Dian), Ann Gall (Joe), Bob Buckley (Kim), Jim Buckley (Teresa), Julie Chastain (Kirk), John Buckley (Teresa), Alice Ethridge (Mark), and David Buckley. Grandchildren Cody Buckley and Matthew Gall preceded her in death, and she is survived by 18 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.
Lorraine and Tom Buckley were married 57 years until his death on August 15, 2004. No family ever had a better daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, or great-grandmother.
While raising eight children, she spent 11 years on the Independence School Board, including two terms as Vice-President, during a critical time. Several schools were built under her tenure: Truman High School, Bridger Junior High, and Mill Creek and Sycamore Elementary schools.
She was probably the only school board member to have a baby while serving and certainly the only board member to ever have eight children, all of whom graduated from William Chrisman High School. She was able to present several of her children with their diplomas and many years later had the opportunity to present her grandson, Matthew Gall, with his.
She also found time to serve in P.T.A. and Young Matrons, and after her children were raised, Lorraine decided to return to the work force, serving as the executive director of the Women’s City Club in Kansas City for eleven years. Considered a leading expert in the country on Robert’s Rules of Order, she was sought by many organizations for advice and consultation concerning organizational issues and served as parliamentarian at many national meetings for the American College of Radiology, the National Postal Workers’ Union, the National Postmasters, the Southern Baptist Convention, among others. For a term she also served as President of the National Association of Parliamentarians. Her dedicated service to others was admired by all who came into contact with her.
While her family always came first, she also spent many hours enjoying the rays of God’s sunshine. She took many trips to Hawaii and would go to the beach every day. Her Cherokee ancestry blessed her with dark olive skin that deepened with each moment in the sun. She loved to travel and always had her bags packed. In 1967, she and Tom fulfilled her desire to see Europe. With eight children—two under the age of five—in two Volkswagen buses, they camped as they traveled around Europe for two whole months. It was the trip of a lifetime for her and her family.
Leading up to her last days, she prayed that the Lord take her home, and she was packed and ready to begin eternity with her Lord and Savior. She had turned her five bags of gold into many more. She will be missed by everyone who knew her, but she leaves an everlasting legacy that inspires so many. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Noland Road Baptist Church and please designate either Annie Armstrong or Lottie Moon (foreign missions). A Celebration of Life will be held at First Baptist Church of Independence on Wednesday, January 17th at 7:00 p.m. The family will welcome friends and family from 5:00 to 7:00 prior to the service.
The family would also like to thank the wonderful women that took care of our mother. You were all very special to her. Pearl, Jeanine, Shelly, Debbie, and Marcie.
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