Janet Anne Buchanan

Janet Anne Still Buchanan was born in Claresholm, Alberta, Canada on October 27, 1919 to the parents of James Still and Mary Gallaher. She grew up in Milton Freewater. Janet’s family farmed on Dry Creek. She attended the University of Oregon and graduated from Oregon State College in 1942 with BS in Home Economics Nutrition. In WWII, she was a Technician 5th Grade in the Women’s Army Corps stationed with the Coast Artillery AA Unit protecting Washington DC. Janet then worked as a writer for the Oregonian newspaper in Portland Oregon.

Janet fell in love and married Martin Huber Buchanan on June 8, 1946. Their life together included 55 years of marriage while loving, raising four children, farming, traveling, engaging in community support organizations and gathering an ever-growing circle of friends for life. Love of her life, Martin, passed on Dec 6, 2001. Gramma Janet enjoyed the adoring chaos of 12 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren and "too many to count" people who knew her as their surrogate mother, grandmother and mentor.

Janet was a gracious, kind woman, who cared about her community and devoted most of her life helping others. She looked for potential in everyone who crossed her path. Janet invested herself in the enrichment of community organizations like the YWCA, Sunshine Club, PEO, Carnegie Art Center, and First Presbyterian Church who work to help individuals, particularly young women, reach their potential. She was wise and witty, interested and interesting, committed to family and community, and a joy to be around. She had an inner sense of character that served her in leadership and adversity.

Janet had a way of making friends feel like family. She had a gentle smile, infectious laugh, and clever sense of humor. Janet led by example, and served as a role model for family, friends, and community.

She is survived by her daughter Patty Burnet of Moro Oregon, sons, Craig and wife Karen, Robert and wife Jane, Jim and wife Sally all of Walla Walla; Janet's sister, Agnes Goodman of Richland, Washington. Preceding Janet in death were her husband and brothers, Alistair Still of Springfield, Oregon and James Still of Milton Freewater.

Memorial services will be conducted at the First Presbyterian Church in Walla Walla April 27, 2013 at 2:30 PM. Memorial contributions may be made to the Walla Walla YWCA through the Herring Grosclose Funeral Home, 315 W. Alder St, WW, WA 99362.