Cecelia Anne Buckley

In loving memory of Cecelia Anne Buckley

August 11, 1940 – October 31, 2015

Cecelia Ann Buckley (Fasbender), C.A. to friends and family, passed peacefully on October 31, 2015 after a hard-fought battle with lung cancer. She lived an amazing life with purpose and touched and inspired all who knew her.

C.A. was born on August 11, 1940 in Great Falls, Montana to Lawrence and Peggy Fasbender. She was the eldest of 5 children and grew up on the family farm in Ashuelot, Montana, west of Great Falls. She loved life on the farm and rode horses, drove the tractor, fed the hired men, and helped with the harvest all before she even had two-digits in her age. It was on the farm where she established her life-long love for all living things – plant and animal.

Her deep love of animals was enhanced when she became the proud owner of a black horse named Will James, after the noted Cowboy artist and author of that same name. Her second horse, a pinto named Chief, inspired her to join the Fairfield Saddle Club. There she helped organize games on horseback called Omoksees, which were originally a Blackfoot Riding Big Dance. She not only enjoyed being a part of the games, but participated in the barrel races. Although not a frequent race winner, just being a part of something she loved was reward enough.

C.A. attended elementary school in Fort Shaw, MT and went on to Great Falls Central Catholic High School. After high school, C.A. attended The College of Great Falls, where she became an elementary school teacher. She taught for many years in both Big Timber and Harlowton where she met the love of her life, Thomas “Tom” Buckley of Harlowton.
She married Tom at St. Ann’s Cathedral in Great Falls on June 6, 1964 and they began their life together in Harlowton. From this union Brian T. Buckley of Helena, Montana and Diane R. Buckley Jones of Carlsbad, California were born. She was also a “second mom” to countless additional children in Harlowton and the surrounding area. Her home was always open and welcome to anyone who needed a place to rest for the night. She often mentioned how she would get up on the weekends and perform a head count to see for how many kids and teenagers she would be cooking breakfast. Her love, support, and devotion for, not only her own children, but all the kids in the entire community was unconditional and unwavering.

After teaching, C.A. decided to become a small business owner in the early 1980’s. She purchased a building on Main Street in Harlowton and opened The Clothes Rack – a family clothing store. But, C.A. always being an overachiever, decided owning just one business was not enough, so, a few years later, she also purchased The Harlowton Gardens Flower and Gift Shop and The Harlowton Gardens Greenhouses. She owned and operated the gift and flower shop, first within the clothing store and then moved it to a second building on Main Street. She loved the summer most for that was when she could really “get her hands dirty” and help beautify the entire town with the plants and flowers she had raised from seed in her carefully and lovingly attended nursery. When two of her husband’s brothers decided to invest in the historic Grave’s Hotel and needed a manager, C.A. did not hesitate to take this challenge on as well. She single-handedly restored and reinvigorated the aging hotel, making it great again for the years she was the caretaker. C.A. was an economic force in Harlowton, employing numerous of the towns’ people at one of her various business ventures.

C.A.’s sense of civic duty was immense, something she took great pride in. All who knew C.A. knew that she was incredibly dedicated to the Democratic Party, having served as President of the Montana State Democratic Women’s Club and in various Democratic leadership roles throughout her lifetime. She was active as Treasurer for the State Democratic Women until only a couple of months prior to her passing. In addition, she was elected to the Harlowton City Council where she served for many years.

She was elected as the Chairwoman of the Wheatland County Memorial Hospital Board and was committed to ensuring excellent health care for her community. She was also a strong member of the Catholic Church and, as an accomplished pianist (like her mother), she played the piano and organ for Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church for many, many years. C.A. did all she could to enhance the Harlowton community, enriching it in many ways and she was devoted to seeing it thrive.
C.A. and Tom moved back to her hometown of Great Falls in 1992 where she managed the Electric City Conservatory for several years. In their retirement, they volunteered to deliver meals-on-wheels to those in need and were RSVP volunteers. They thoroughly enjoyed tending the flower gardens at Paris Gibson Square as well as at her alma-mater, The College of Great Falls, which they did out of the kindness of their hearts and their love of giving back.

C.A. was accomplished in so many things, a true renaissance woman, but her favorite hobby was certainly gardening. She always made every inch of land in her lush backyard as beautiful as possible. She loved animals and cared for many injured or homeless animals throughout her life, like so many things in this world, they were drawn to her compassion and strength. C.A. was an amazing cook and baker, catering numerous events and creating many beautiful wedding cakes for her friends and neighbors, often as a gift to them. But, by far, her greatest source of pride and joy were her children, grandchildren, and her love of family and friends. She was a true treasure and will be missed by countless people.

C.A. was preceded in death by her parents Lawrence and Peggy Fasbender, her husband Thomas Buckley, and her son Kevin Thomas Buckley.

She is survived by her son Brian Thomas Buckley of Helena, MT, her daughter Diane Renee Buckley Jones and Diane’s husband Philip Jones of Carlsbad, CA, her brothers Larry (Retta) Fasbender of Helena, MT, and Mike (Vicki) Fasbender of Fairfield, MT, and her sisters Margaret “Tootzle” Fasbender of Great Falls, MT and Theresa “Taffy” (Barry) Cochran of Great Falls, MT. Other members of her family include her grandchildren Jarrod Buckley of Bozeman, MT, Connor Buckley of Bozeman, MT, Gabrielle Cecelia Jones of Carlsbad, CA, and Mason Jones of Carlsbad, CA. C.A. also had many cousins, aunts, uncles, in-laws, nieces, nephews, “second children”, and friends whom she loved.

Following cremation, her ashes will be interred in the family plot in Harlowton next to her husband, Tom and son, Kevin. A memorial service will be held on Monday, November 23rd at 11:00 AM at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church in Harlowton, Montana with a reception following.

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