Loraine (Kay) Buchanan, 92, passed away on June 9, 2015, at the Sacred Heart Care Center in Austin, Minnesota.

Kay was born on June 25, 1922, to Laura and Avon Kayser. She grew up on a ranch in Goldendale, Washington, with her sister, Barbara. She graduated from high school as valedictorian of her class at age 16. Kay attended the University of Washington in Seattle, and Ellensburg Teachers College for four years, studying languages and education. With the onset of World War II, she left college to work in the Boeing airplane factory in Seattle, where she met Murray Buchanan of Graceville, Minnesota. They married on May 14, 1943, and moved to Graceville in 1945. After Murray’s retirement, they divided their time between Graceville and Edinburg, Texas.

Kay was a loving wife and mother, devoting much of her time to her family. She loved people and was active in many activities, including the Graceville golf club, the Eastern Star, and the Graceville UCC church. She was an avid bridge player and participated in bridge clubs in Graceville, Edinburg, and Austin. The family spent many hours playing bridge or other card games when together. She and Murray also liked dancing and attended dances at Glenwood, Minnesota. Kay said that Murray was quite popular at these dances because he was one of the few men who enjoyed dancing. Kay worked at the Graceville hospital for 10 years. She also occasionally substituted as a French teacher at the Graceville High School.

After Murray passed away, she moved to Austin, Minnesota, to be close to her daughter, Joan. She lived at the Cedars of Austin for three-and-a-half years and at the Sacred Heart Care Center for two-and-a-half years. In Austin, Kay was a member of the Red Hat Club.

Kay is survived by her five children: Joan (Daryl) Franklin of Austin, Minnesota, Carol (Steve) Richards of Lubbock, Texas, Janet (Patrick) Chladek of Sacramento, California, Gail (John) Lane of Las Vegas, Nevada, and Scott (Mary) Buchanan of St. Paul, Minnesota; nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren with another one on the way.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Murray in 2009; and her sister Barbara Cameron of Rainier, Oregon.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 27, 2015, at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Austin, Minnesota, with the Rev. Michael Olmsted officiating. Visitation will be at the church one hour before the service. Interment will be at the Graceville Consolidated Cemetery, Tuesday, June 30 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to the Minnesota Society for the Blind, The Graceville Consolidated Cemetery or the donor’s choice. Eggers Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements (www.eggersfh.com.) Our sincere thanks go to the staff at the Sacred Heart Care Center for their care and kindness to both our mother and our family.