Yvonne Buchanan

Loving mother, wife and friend, Yvonne Marie Robertson Buchanan, 74, of Medina, Texas passed away on October 31, 2015 in Medina, Texas. She passed away at home, surrounded by her loving family and care taker. She was born in San Antonio, Texas to Leo Robertson and Alice Marie Benton on April 21, 1941. She married Lauren Barry Buchanan on August 1, 1959 in Lockhart, Texas.\r\n\r\nShe attended school in San Antonio and was a member of the first graduating class of Thomas Jefferson High School in 1959. She was active in the "Lasso's" and choir while attending Thomas Jefferson High School. She met her future husband, Barry Buchanan, on a blind date after he had returned from his service in the Navy. The two eloped to Lockhart, Texas on August 1, 1959. Yvonne was a stay at home mom for her five children until she and Barry started Texas Gulf Refrigeration in Clute, Texas in 1973. Yvonne and Barry built the business together while she ran the office and he made service calls. Barry would pray daily that "thy will be done" as he headed out to build the business. She ran the office until she returned to college to obtain her degree in Chemical Dependency counseling. She was the owner of Texas Gulf Refrigeration from 1973 to 2015. She and Barry enjoyed many trips that they were awarded by York and Carrier Air Conditioning for being the top sellers in their area. They traveled to Acapulco, Cancun, Hawaii, Monaco, England, Switzerland, Paris, Rome, Bahamas and Venezuela. On one particular trip to Acapulco, they met their life time friends, Dean and Geraldine White from Brazoria, Texas. Their friendship grew to include the families deer hunting together in South Texas on a yearly basis. In 1984, Yvonne obtained her certification as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor. She had a private practice in Lake Jackson and helped many people on their path to recovery. Yvonne was also part owner of Back to Basics in Clute, Texas. The store displayed many of her beautiful dry flower arrangements and wreaths along with antiques and artwork. Yvonne always had a gift for decorating and great taste in interior design. In 1990, Yvonne and Barry achieved their lifetime dream of buying a beautiful place in the Texas Hill Country. Yvonne loved her time in Medina and made it her permanent home in 1990, telling Barry, "come see me as often as you can". She enjoyed riding her four wheeler, tending to her garden and maintaining the property in Medina. Throughout the years, Yvonne and Barry remodeled and expanded the original one bedroom, one bath home to the current beautiful home that she was so very proud of. Yvonne enjoyed many activities including dancing, music, spirituality, arts and crafts and the television show Criminal minds. She was an avid reader and was very knowledgeable in many areas which she loved to discuss and debate. Yvonne was always in search of more knowledge, especially in the area of spirituality, which she loved sharing with her friends and family. She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren and shopping, especially with one of her best friends, Melinda Wren. \r\n\r\nYvonne is preceded in death by her mother, Alice Marie Benton Rittimann, and her father, Leo Robertson. \r\n\r\nShe is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, Lauren Barry Buchanan, by her daughter Laura Marie Ripple and husband Don Ray Ripple of Cedar Hill, Texas, son Lauren Barry (Bubba) and wife Tonya Buchanan of Lake Jackson, Texas, daughter Lisa Dianne Buchanan of Angleton, Texas, daughter Lynn Elizabeth Buchanan of Angleton, Texas, daughter Lia Faye Cloudt and husband Eric Cloudt of Pipe Creek, Texas; Sisters Linda Smith and Susan Nentwich - both of San Antonio, Texas; Eleven grandchildren: Ryan Joseph Ripple of Los Angeles, California, Lauren Marie Wiemers of San Antonio, Texas, Chad Lafayette Buchanan of Lake Jackson, Texas, Cameron Daniel Buscher of Los Angeles, California, Collin Michael Buscher of Angleton, Texas, Travis Benton Buchanan of Corpus Christi, Texas, Carma Rhaye Cloudt of Pipe Creek, Texas, Cyalie Yvonne Buchanan of Lake Jackson, Texas, Benton Monroe Cloudt of Pipe Creek, Texas, West Lafayette Cloudt of Pipe Creek, Texas, and Colton Walker Buchanan of Lake Jackson, Texas. Two great grandchildren: Kali Jade Buchanan and Kane Lafayette Buchanan of Lake Jackson, Texas, and her beloved dog, Schotze.\r\n\r\nVisitation will be: Wednesday, November 4, 2015 from 5-7:00 P.M. at Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera, Texas.\r\n\r\nFuneral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2015 at Grimes Funeral Chapels of Bandera, Texas. Burial will follow at Oakrest Cemetery in Medina, Texas. A reception will be held directly after the burial at Antler Oaks Lodge in Bandera, Texas.\r\n\r\nPallbearers will be grandsons Ryan Joseph Ripple, Chad LaFayette Buchanan, Cameron Daniel Buscher, Collin Michael Buscher, Travis Benton Buchanan, Benton Monroe Cloudt, West Lafeyette Cloudt, and nephew John Tracey.\r\n\r\nHonorary Pallbearers will be: Kane Buchanan, Colton Buchanan, Don Ripple, Eric Cloudt, Gerald Shelton, Dean White, Glenn Wren and Mickey Stephenson\r\n\r\nIn lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Unity Church of Christianity or the charity of your choice. \r\n\r\nThe family of Yvonne Buchanan wish to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Michelle Scanlan, Dr. Nora Walker, April Kirkpatrick, Minnie Gauthier, Debbie Peevler, Nancy Radimeny, Gloria Harro, Samantha Garcia and all the staff of Alternative Health Care and Peterson Hospice.