Brian Keith Buckingham

February 24, 1963 - September 3, 2017

02/24/1963 ••• 09/06/2017
          “Ducks & Bubba...Duke & Rose”

On Sunday, September 3, 2017, Brian Keith Buckingham was welcomed into heaven by his loving mom Georgia, his 'first love' Laurie, older brother Bret, sister Lindy, & his brother-in-law & best friend John Starr. "Briar", the youngest son of Bruce T. Buckingham & Georgia Leola nee Kyle Buckingham Judd, was born in Salem, Oregon February 24, 1963. He played Babe Ruth, attended McKinley, Leslie Middle & South Salem High School & often worked after school as a box-boy at Country Squire IGA with his older step-brother Lyle. He excelled as a two-sport athlete, playing offensive lineman in both JV and varsity football & won wrestling awards in his Senior year.  
By joining the Navy, he honored his Uncle Ernie WWII Navy casualty,  & received an honorable discharge after 4 years as an Aviation Boatswain's Mate assigned to the USS KITTY HAWK. He continued on to Chemeketa Community College while serving in the Navy Reserve and received an AA degree in Criminal Justice.  Like many, he held a variety of job titles before landing that 'dream one' at DHS as a Mental Health Therapy Technician for the State of Oregon.
At his request: no service and no notifications. Arrangements by Virgil T. Golden Mortuary with interment at Willamette National Cemetary in Portland.  Favorite Charity Memorial donations may be sent in Brian’s name to:  Pat Tillman Foundation, 2141 E. Broadway Road, Tempe, Arizona 85282 Information about this Veteran's academic charity can be found at: pattillmanfoundation.org
If you'd like to read more about Brian and what he often reminisced about, continue below:
1. Trivia nights at "The Freeloader" tavern, where his mom worked & often served “the game” as score keeper.
2. Discussing "baseball"  or "football" with buddies or with step-dad Roger Judd, over pizza and a beer.
3. "All sports" arguments & laughter at his Dad & stepmom’s on Friday ‘game nites’ shared with step brothers Dean, Lyle or with Mabel & friends. Teasing & teaching nephew Carson to play poker, how to tell jokes or sharing “novel ideas”. Both voracious readers.
4, John “the Duke”Wayne movies; his love of the Oregon 'Ducks', Corvettes, his dog Bubba, his Dodge Truck, golfing, fishing anywhere, esp.Detroit Lake, He really believed Pete Rose would ‘some day’ be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
5. Remembering how family holidays used to be was a constant favorite topic. Like being with Dad & his step brothers & step-sisters Lorie & Verna from SLC & sis-in-law Nancy & at her folks when the Seattle family visited or on the river with cousins Mickey, Eddie, Jamie & Mark, Randy & Moses & Aunt Viola & Stub or Aunt Lorraine, Cecil, Brad, Butch & Cheri. Or in Silverton with Aunt Leona, Alan & Lee or Aunt Dar, Frank, Diane, Michael, Kinsey & Paul & his boys in Keizer.  Scotts Mills or Corvallis get togethers with Mom, Uncle Bud & Bobbie & Aunties Mary & Carolyn & cousins Bob, Kim, Jennifer, Kathy, Cindy, Jenny & Bill.  Dad & Dena were always invited. Uncle Ross & Loren made Hood River fun, as well as, relatives at parties honoring Grams Katherine Dean or Gram Kyle.  Trips to Neskowin to visit Gpa Frank & Gram Dena & Butchie with John & Lindy & friends & family in tow were special.
7. Providing unconditional love helping John & Bret & Connie guide his nieces Kory Jacob  & family & April Derrick & family & coaching the girls in the Keiser Little League Softball.
8. Being grateful he could be in contact with his dad every day & for loyal old Navy buddies & friends on FB like Helene, a wonderful artist & family who texted & kept lively conversations going with him over the past three years.
When he transferred from the hospital into foster care, his Dad, stepmom & nephew took the "family fun" to Brian, by visiting him &  his "homies" weekly.  
Special thanks to: stepmom Dena, who advocated for and guided him on a daily basis for over 3 years thru the maze of receiving medical, disabled & veterans services; nephew Carson who moved Briar three times & helped make each place more homey with carpentry skills & jokes; favorite cousin Jenny & step sister Lorie who ‘found the time to make trips to visit him’ this past year; and to Kim Call a wonderful friend for recognizing what a special guy Brian was, by being there in his darkest hours.
The family wishes to thank:  VA Drs. Fairfax & Bradley; Avamere Sunnyside’s rehabilitation team; Mike Hamer for friendship & care; Legal Aid’s Peter James for his belief in Brian; NWSDS staff members including David, Melissa, Michelle, Mary & Candice; Alice & Skip Breyer & Veronica Le Fever, who opened their home to embraced him as family and ‘Bless’ the Salem Health ICU RN's:  Robin, Sierra & Jessica, who were there to say “Goodbye”.
Again, at Brian's request: no service and no notifications. Arrangements by Virgil T. Golden Mortuary with interment at Willamette National Cemetary in Portland.  Favorite Charity Memorial donations may be sent in Brian’s name to:  Pat Tillman Foundation, 2141 E. Broadway Road, Tempe, Arizona 85282 More about this Veteran's academic charity at: pattillmanfoundation.org

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