Louise Buchanan

Louise Virginia Buchanan, educator, loving mother, and cherished member of the Wenatchee Community, passed away peacefully at her home in East Wenatchee, Washington on Friday, October 17, 2025. She was 96. Born on June 6, 1929, in Andover, Ohio, Louise was the daughter of Phillip Mason Smith and Frances Elizabeth Smith. She spent her early childhood in Pierpont, Ohio, before moving to Bruin, Pennsylvania in the mid-1930s. In 1947, Louise relocated to Walla Walla, Washington, where she graduated from Walla Walla High School the same year. Louise pursued her passion for education at Central Washington University, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1950. That same year, she married James William Buchanan in Seattle, Washington. Together, they settled in East Wenatchee, where they built a life centered around family, learning, and service. Louise and Jim both earned Master’s degrees in Education from the University of Washington in 1956, a testament to their shared commitment to academic excellence. Louise began her career as an elementary school librarian, later stepping away to raise her three children: Rebecca Lee (born 1954), Scott Mason (born 1955), and William Barrett (born 1961). In 1964, she returned to education as a high school counselor at Eastmont High School, where she guided and inspired students for 25 years until her retirement in 1989. Louise was preceded in death by her beloved husband James in 2003. She is survived by her three children and two grandchildren, Brenton William Buchanan and Christina Alicia Buchanan. Louise’s legacy lives on through her children, grandchildren, friends, and the countless students whose lives she touched with compassion and wisdom. Louise will be remembered for her compassion, generosity, and genuine interest in the lives of other people. Her life was full of grace, intellect, and enduring love. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donation be made to the Chelan-Douglas Land Trust or the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society. A memorial service will be held at Cascade Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at 1550 Sunset Highway on Saturday, November 8, from 2 to 4 pm. Her story continues in the lives she shaped—and the lessons she taught us all. Arrangements by Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Louise Buchanan

June 6, 1929 - October 17, 2025