Mabel A. Buchecker

MABEL A. BUCHECKER departed this life on Saturday, December 3, 2016, surrounded by loved ones. Mabel was born in the hills of the Ozarks on October 5, 1933 to parents Harrison and Ella West.

Adventurous, resourceful, and headstrong, Mabel knew from an early age that there was a great big world out there waiting for her. At age 14 she ventured alone to St. Louis where she worked at a title company to support herself and send money home to help her parents. At 19 she married Winston Daggett and together they had one child, Terri. After the dissolution of her marriage of 7 years, on a trip through New Mexico, she met and married the love of her life William A. Buchecker, and they celebrated nearly 50 years of marriage up until his death in 2011. Together they had one child, Michelle. Mabel was always proud that she was a country girl who went from a one room schoolhouse with an 8th grade education to a college graduate. She was an avid reader and loved to travel, her last trip at age 80 aboard a cruise to Alaska. Mabel loved to entertain and spent many years volunteering her time to help others. She was a devoted wife, mother, and homemaker and in her later years was best known for her baking skills and surprise visits to friends, neighbors, hospital workers, and strangers with arms full of yummy treats. Anyone who had a chance to sit and talk with Mabel always left with a smile on their face and feeling better about themselves.

Mabel is preceded in death by her parents Harrison and Ella West, her husband Bill, sister-friend Margaret Biava, nephew Stevie Register, and granddaughter Melanie Dalton. She is survived by her two daughters Terri Dalton (Al Gallegos), Santa Fe, NM, Michelle Buchecker (Brad Wollangk), Chicago, IL, sisters Betty Slocum (Darrel), Vancouver, WA, Judy Brandt (Neal), Springfield, MO, brother Leon West, Piedmont, MO, grandchildren Kelly Dalton (Mark Brazzeal) and Matthew Dalton, Henderson, NV, "honorary grandson" Leroy Valdez, former son-in-law Adrian Dalton, nieces and nephews Heather, Sara, Milli, Nancy, David, Tony, Sylvia, and Vickie, Special friend Dr. Comfort Bonu her "angel" and many other special friends and neighbors. Many thanks to the nurses, doctors, aides, and ancillary department staff of ICU, PCU, 3200, and 3600 at St. Vincent Hospital for their awesome, competent, kind and loving care of Mabel during her transition from life to death.

Celebration of Life Visitation and Service to be held at Rivera Family Funeral Home – Kiva Chapel of Light, 417 E. Rodeo Rd., Santa Fe, NM from 6:30 to 8:30 pm on Sunday, December 11, 2016. Burial will be Monday, December 12, 2016 at 11:15 a.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the charity of your choice.