Dorothy M. (MacKay) Buchanan

Dorothy M. (MacKay) Buchanan, of Derry, NH and former longtime resident of Cambridge, NY went home to be with her Savior on Monday April 22, 2019. She was 89 years of age.

Dorothy was born July 20, 1929, in Lynn, Massachusetts to James and Lydia Trenholm MacKay. She graduated from high school in Amherst, Nova Scotia, from college at Bryant and Stratton in Boston, MA, and from modeling school at the Academe Moderne in Boston.

Dorothy was married to her husband, William H. Buchanan on August 22, 1953. They celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary a few months before the Lord called William home on January 9, 2014.

As a young adult, she worked as a model and as an executive secretary. While her children were growing up Dorothy chose to be a full-time homemaker. After her children were grown, she returned to work in the Employee Benefits Department of Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Niskayuna, NY.
Over the years, her artistic eye found creative expression in cake decorating, ceramics, landscape painting, flower gardening, rug hooking and colonial period decorating. During her retirement years Dorothy was active in Scottish affairs. She served as Co-Regent in New York State for Clan Buchanan International and loved helping people explore their Scottish roots and their connection to Clan Buchanan.

Dorothy was known and loved for her gracious hospitality at their home, "Thistle Hollow," in Cambridge, NY, where she cherished time spent with her family and friends. She is survived by her son, Pastor Bruce Buchanan (Patty) of Cortland, NY and her daughter, Bonnie Heather Brunson (Allen) of Derry, NH; by her grandchildren, Scott (Caroline), Greg (Becca), and Brandon Buchanan; and by Craig (Abby), Kirk, Douglas, and JessieAnne Brunson; and by her great-granddaughters, Elowyn Buchanan and Catherine Buchanan; and by her sister, Marlene (Don) MacLeod of Alpharetta, GA, and nieces and nephews. In addition to her husband and her parents, she was preceded in death by her sister, Audrey C. Specht; and brothers, James A. MacKay, Jr. and John B. MacKay.

Family and friends can gather to honor and remember Dorothy for a graveside service on Tuesday, April 30, 2019 at 11:00 AM in The Gardens at Gethsemane Cemetery, 670 Baker Street, West Roxbury, MA. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the youth camp, The Wilds of New England, 1181 Deering Center Road, Deering, NH 03244.