Joann Buckley

Joann Buckley, 84, passed away peacefully July 6, 2021. She was born Sept. 22, 1936 to Kennie and Clara Skeens of Pikeville, Kentucky. Joann graduated from Pikeville High School in 1954, where she was the Valedictorian.

Joann was a retired Postmaster at Hartford. Before that, she was a Bus Driver for the Hartford Public Schools.

She married Oscar Thomas Buckley on April 11, 1955 and they were together until his death in 2008.

After having a stroke in 2013, she and her son, Robert Buckley, moved from Hartford to Battle Creek, where they lived with her son and daughter-in-law, Thomas and Diane Buckley, for the past seven years. She had two little dogs, Mitzi and Mazie, who seemed to make every step she did. They miss her greatly.

After moving to Battle Creek, she began making beaded necklaces for kids. They were 100% donated and have been distributed all over the world on Mission trips. They were donated to churches, schools, United Way, Charitable Union and the Shoe Box project program. She loved making them and it brought her great joy seeing the smiling faces of the kids.

Joann was loved by everyone who met her. She will be greatly missed by all of her family and friends. She had a heart of gold and treated everyone so loving and kind. She always treated her daughter-in-law, Diane, more like a daughter. They had a special love for each other.

Joann was preceded in passing by her husband, Oscar Buckley; a son, Steven Buckley; her parents, Kennie and Clara Skeens; and a brother, Bobby Skeens.

Joann is survived by her sons, Thomas (Diane) Buckley and Robert Buckley of Battle Creek; granddaughter, Jenny Buckley (Phil Rose) of Kalamazoo; brothers, Ken (Leigh) Skeens of North Fort Myers, Florida and Homer Skeens of Morehead, Kentucky; sister, Donna Skeens Williamson of Winter Springs, Florida; and many sisters-in-law; brothers-in-law; nieces; and nephews.

There will be a private graveside gathering in her honor for her immediate family at the Maple Hill Cemetery in Hartford. A date has not been decided.

Joann and Robert attended Grace Fellowship Baptist Church. If you wish to make a donation in her name, the address is 4970 Capital Avenue SW, Battle Creek, Mich. 49015.

Arrangements are with the Calvin Funeral Home in Hartford. Those wishing to leave memorial condolences for the family may do so at http://www.calvin-leonardfh.com.