Merle Dean Buckmaster

Merle Dean Buckmaster, age 84, of Shawnee, Oklahoma, passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2024 in Oklahoma City, OK.

She was born April 30, 1940 in Gerty, Oklahoma to R.B. and Maymie (Sanford) Gentry.

Merle was raised in Gerty until she moved to the Shawnee/Tecumseh area for most of her life. She graduated from Tecumseh Highschool, Class of 1958.

Merle and her husband Paul lived in Shawnee, Oklahoma, where they were married on December 12, 2002.

Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the light of her life. Her best days were spent sitting on the front porch watching them play in the yard, attending all of their sports or school functions, or giving them all the snacks and candy they wanted. She always had a full stock waiting for whatever kids wandered through the door. She loved gardening, she was so proud of all of her flowers. Watching OU sports and cheering on her Sooners is where you’d find her if a game was on. Thunder Basketball, too. If you drove by the house with the windows down, you just might have been able to hear her cheering. If she wasn’t at home, you’d likely find her eating at Bandana Reds or catfish somewhere with Paul. She also enjoyed cooking; Thanksgiving dinner was her favorite to make. She always made sure to make extra, so the grandkids had leftovers to take, and the neighbors were fed too. That’s who she was, a caretaker.. kind, hilarious when she didn’t mean to be, a good neighbor, a good friend. She welcomed everyone in the door and made them feel like they belonged. She loved visiting with people, rarely did she go anywhere that she didn’t see someone she knew. She would visit for a while until you’d hear “well Paul Gregory, let’s go home!” Because that’s where she loved being too.. at home, with Paul and Cali, their yorkie that they both adored. She will be so greatly missed by all that knew her and the world will miss her light (and her sass too). She was one of a kind and anyone that knew her was better for it.

Merle is preceded in death by her parents, R.B. and Maymie Gentry; brothers, Orville, Randy, and Sheldon; sisters, Laverne, Monnie, and Beverly; son in law, Russ Nordstrom; and stepdaughter, Paula Buckmaster.

She is survived by her husband Paul Buckmaster; brother, Dee (Brenda); sister in law, Chris; daughter, Darla Nordstrom; stepchildren, Greg (Anne), Rocky, Jeff, and Joe; grandchildren, Josh (Mandi), Kelli (Aaron), Kyle, Mitchell (Katelynn), Travis, Rory (Britni), Nicci, Bo (Josh), Josh (Kristine), Amanda, Angie, Lexi, and Austin (Bailey); 29 great-grandchildren; and many extended family and friends.

Memorial Service will be at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at Cooper Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Mark Guinn, Living Love Christian Center, Shawnee, OK officiating under the direction of Cooper Funeral Home of Tecumseh.  Please join the celebration of Merle’s life through Cooper Funeral Home’s Facebook page for live streaming of the service.