Obituary

After a recent decline in health, former weather reporter for the Chronicle , Craig "Bud" Buchanan passed away at his home in Derby, VT on April 26, 2023.

Born August 22, 1944, in Yonkers, NY, Bud graduated from UVM in 1966 and married Carolyn "Becky" Brown in 1968. Remaining in Vermont after graduation, he worked for the United States Department of Agriculture in a territory that covered VT, NH and the Virgin Islands. In 1982 Craig left the USDA and moved with Becky and their three children to West Glover to operate Lake Parker Country Store.

While Bud returned to work at the USDA in 1984, his heart remained with the store. As a store owner, Bud looked forward to making chili and personally manning the register of the store most Saturdays. Thought to be a native of the area by many, Bud was integral in the creation of the infamous "Where the Hell is West Glover" gear the store sold. He thoroughly enjoyed the variety of people the store served and the community to which it contributed.

A skilled skier and tennis player through his youth, Bud became an avid snowmobile, ATV, motorcycle and Corvette enthusiast as an adult. Bud was president of the Vermont Motocross Association in the late 1980s and a longtime member and officer of the Glover Trailwinders snowmobile club.

Bud reconnected with his high school sweetheart, Barbara Avery soon after separating from Becky in 1993. Bud and Barbara married in 1995 and ran the store together through its closure in 2001. They moved to Derby in 2002 where Bud finished his working career as a loan officer at Community National Bank.

In retirement, Craig and Barbara had a number of adventures, including riding a Spyder round trip to British Columbia and travels to Alaska, Australia and New Zealand. However, no matter how far they traveled, Bud preferred living and exploring his own backyard where his seemingly eidetic geographic memory served him best. He and Barbara spent many days discovering and enjoying the roads and trails of VT, NH and Quebec on their own and with their friends John and Pat Cooper and Bert and Nancy Desrochers.

Whether it was assisting with bookkeeping at his son's business, attending his daughter's roller derby bouts or helping to build a bridge or trail, Bud did his part to assist and support the people and activities he cared about. In later years, he loved being a part of the lives of his five young grandchildren.

Craig is survived by his wife Barbara of Derby; his son Ian and daughter-in-law Judy Buchanan of East Montpelier; his son Bryan Buchanan and daughter-in-law Melissa Grady of Epping, NH; and his daughter Lisa and daughter-in-law Kate Jurras-Buchanan of Belmont, MA. He leaves five grandchildren – Aine, Cormac, Elena, Isidore and Arlo.

Craig was predeceased by his parents David & Dorothy Buchanan and his sister Marjorie Bender.

A celebration of Craig's life will be held on May 19 ^th . Donations, in lieu of flowers, in Craig's name to the Newport Ambulance squad are greatly appreciated.