Donna Dee Buck

Citations

1. [S911] Newspaper Obituary, Obituary for William "Neal" Buck
   
   Published in The Sacramento Bee from Apr. 13 to Apr. 14, 2014
   
   BUCK, William 'Neal'
   Dad was born on December 2, 1914 in Bethany, Harrison County, Missouri. He passed away in his sleep at age 99 on March 29, 2014, in Carmichael, California.
   
   Dad was the only son of Orla M. Buck and Rilla Maude (nee, Neal) Buck, but grew up with his half sister, Velma, and a number of aunts and uncles close in age. Nicknamed 'Willie' as a child, once youthful independence allowed, Dad let everyone know he was to be called Neal. After graduating from Bethany High School he went on to study math at Park College, a small Presbyterian college in Parkville, MO With a B.A. in Math, he transferred to the School of Mines and Metallurgy, University of Missouri-Rolla in the fall of 1936. He completed the 60 credits needed for a B.S. in Civil Engineering, with a major in Structural Design, in December, 1937, and graduated with his class in May, 1938.
   
   Following is Dad's work history taken from a letter he wrote to the University of Missouri-Rolla in response to an invitation from the Academy of Civil Engineers:
   
   'There was a tradition that seniors in Civil Engineering would take a field trip of several days to Milwaukee and Chicago in the Spring semester before graduation. Since I would be taking only three semesters, I would not be there for the Spring field trip with my class. The leader of the 1937 group let me go a year early. That trip was a real high point for me!
   
   After finishing at the School of Mines I had a number of different jobs. In 1939 I finally began to get ones that lasted for more than a few months. I heard that Phillips Petroleum was putting together a seismograph crew to work in Texas and Louisiana along the Gulf Coast- I stopped by and was hired. I met and married my wife, Lillian, in Brenham, Texas in October 1940. In September 1941 I quit Phillips, moved to California, and was hired by the U.S. Geological Survey as a Field Engineer to do topographic mapping. With the start of World War II the USGS became involved with the war effort. We lived, and I worked, in (Arlington) Virginia for about 3 years. Our oldest daughter was born in Washington, DC in May 1945.
   
   We returned to California in 1946 and later bought a home in Carmichael. My second daughter was born in 1949. I continued as a Field Engineer until 1952 and then became a Map Editor. The last map I completed was of Arizona, including all Indian Reservations, State and National Parks, trails and cities.
   
   In the early 50's the state began creating the Department of Water Resources. It became active in July 1956. The USGS was about to move us again. We had put down roots in Carmichael, so I quit. Two weeks later I went to work for the state in the new department of Dam Design and Construction. Its primary function was to plan, design, and build the State Water Project.
   
   The water project was a large and complicated undertaking - a particular challenge was the Peripheral Canal. At the same time, the state was also involved in building a number of dams. I worked on the Pyramid Darn near the Tehachapi Mountains, the Oroville Dam and Reservoir, on various fish hatcheries, and on other projects within the Project. I also worked with the Federal Power Commission to procure the necessary licenses to move the projects forward. It was an interesting and exciting time to be working. The Water Project was one of the biggest undertakings with regard to water conservation and transportation. I retired from the Department of Water Resources on December 31, 1979.
   
   Retirement was not a time for sitting down and resting. I always enjoyed photography (Dad was a member of the Photographic Society of America for 40 years.), and Lillian and I were fortunate to make several trips overseas. We visited the British Isles, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Scandinavia and countries in between. We even made it to Hawaii. I took pictures all the way! We did not go on arranged tours. We rented a car and stayed in B & Bs or nice hotels. I did all the driving, never had a problem with left or right side of the road, mountains or valleys, rain or snow.
   
   As I look back over the years, those three semesters spent at the School of Mines in 1936 and 1937 were worth all the hard work and effort. My Civil Engineering Degree led me to jobs that were interesting and allowed me to travel to all the states west of the Rocky Mountains. I have had many adventures walking the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, too many to recount. I have seen mountains and valleys, pristine and beautiful, and wondered at glorious sunrises and sunsets in the deserts of Arizona, Utah, and Wyoming. Perhaps the greatest gift is that I have always enjoyed my work. I would not give up those three semesters (at the School of Mines) for anything.'
   
   Dad's family life was just as full as his work life. In 1955, as Vice-president of the Carmichael Garden Club, he joined in the planting of 52 crepe myrtle trees in Carmichael Park. The goal was to have Carmichael become known as the Crepe Myrtle Community. To that end, he also planted crepe myrtles along the family's long driveway. Fifty-nine years later the trees still put on a showy bloom in summer.
   
   Dad really enjoyed living in Carmichael. He planted many fruit trees and vegetable gardens on the family property, raised rabbits and chickens, cured olives and dried fruit. For many years he was a volunteer 4-H leader and learned the ins and outs of raising sheep along with his daughters. He and Lillian, his wife of 73 years, served 40 years in the Sacramento Community Concert Association and volunteered at the California Capital Museum. He was a longtime member of the Carmichael Presbyterian Church, and in his later years belonged to the Torch Club and Sons In Retirement. Through annual picnics, alumni news letters, personal letters and family visits, he remained close friends with many of his USGS and DWR coworkers. Dad, and his good advice on just about everything, will be dearly missed by all who remain.
   
   Dad is survived by loving daughters, Donna Buck-Jacobs (Scott) and Bette Johnson, both of Carmichael, nieces and nephews Debbie Fickessen (Jack) and Alvin Schroeder (Judee) of Austin and Katy, TX, and Martha Jane Baca (Harold) of Socorro, NM, Thomas Webb (Brenda) of Arnold, MD, and many grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. We also give many thanks to his caregivers at Harmony Home where he resided the last 4 years.
   
   All who knew Neal are invited to a memorial service Wednesday, April 30 at 11:00 A.M. at the Carmichael Presbyterian Church (CPC), 5645 Marconi Ave., Carmichael, CA. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the CPC Food Closet or Heifer International.
2. [S911] Newspaper Obituary, http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/sacbee/obituary.aspx
   
   Donna Dee Buck (1945 - 2018)
   Obituary
   
   Donna D. Buck passed away at her home on April 25, 2018. Born in Washington D.C. to parents Lillian (Viereck) and Wm. Neal Buck, she was a lifelong Carmichael resident from age four. She graduated from El Camino H.S., Oregon State University, and Stanislaus and Sacramento State Universities and held a B.S. in English, Secondary Education Teaching Credential, and Masters in Social Work. She retired from the University of California Medical Center in 2011 where she worked as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in several clinics including Transplant, Geriatrics, Neo-Natal and the hospital Emergency Room night shift. She also taught ceramics through Adult Education, enjoyed cooking, was an avid reader and photographer, patron of the arts, and traveler. She loved all animals starting with raising sheep as a 4-H kid and continuing with the many dogs and cats she rescued throughout her life. She generously supported many animal charities, arts, and women's groups. She is survived by and will be greatly missed by her sister Bette Johnson, former husband Scott Jacobs, and cousins Alvin Schroeder (Susie), Debbie Fickessen (Jack), Thomas Webb (Brenda) and Martha Jane Baca (Harold). Her sister sends sincere thanks to Donna's many near and far away friends who faithfully wrote, called and visited Donna through her illness, and her wonderful Snowline Hospice support team. All who knew Donna are invited to a Celebration of Life service at 11 AM on Tuesday, June 12 at the Carmichael Presbyterian Church, 5645 Marconi Ave., Carmichael. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Carmichael Food Closet, Heiffer Project or charity of choice.
   
   
   Published in The Sacramento Bee from June 8 to June 10, 2018.
3. [S662] InterNet Data. URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/190333066/…
   
   Donna Dee Buck
   BIRTH     31 May 1945
   District Of Columbia, USA
   DEATH     25 Apr 2018 (aged 72)
   Carmichael, Sacramento County, California, USA
   BURIAL     
   Mount Vernon Memorial Park
   Fair Oaks, Sacramento County, California, USA
   MEMORIAL ID     190333066
   
   Created by: John Ferrell
   Added: 4 Jun 2018
   Find A Grave Memorial 190333066.