Marjorie Hayward Buchanan

Marjorie Hayward Buchanan

Marjorie “Jori” Hayward Buchanan, age 98, a resident of Fayetteville, Arkansas, passed away on Thursday, September 18, 2014. She was preceded in death by her two brothers, Lucius and Gordon, and her two sisters, Bessie Volker and Dorothy LeLaurin.

Jori was born May 27, 1916 in Meridian, Mississippi, the fourth child to Lucius Hamilton and Bessie Bonner Hayward. Her family moved to New Orleans seven years later to create the L. H. Hayward & Sons Company and package the Camellia Brand red beans, a New Orleans staple. She was always close to her brother, Gordon, who tutored her in golf and paid for her dancing lessons. She was quite the “tomboy,” always participating in swimming, golfing, tennis, and sailing on Lake Pontchartrain. She graduated from McMain High School in 1933. She went on to attend Soule Business College in New Orleans for 2 years. She worked at Home Life Insurance Company during the late 1930s.

Through a mutual friend, she met the youngest son of a Tulane University professor, Dr. H. E. Buchanan. John Buchanan and Jori enjoyed picnics and sailing and other sports. Two years later, on February 2, 1940, they were married at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. During World War II, John served in the Navy in the Pacific theatre; whenever his ship docked, Jori would drive their Studebaker and two small kids cross country to be with him at every port from California to Florida.

The couple raised five children in New Orleans. While she lived in New Orleans, Jori served as a Cub Scout Den Mother and later a Girl Scout Leader. She was on the Executive Board of the Women’s Auxiliary of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. She and John moved to Prairie Grove to take over the family farm in 1969; she was active in many community programs including the Women’s Study Club of Prairie Grove, the General Federated Women’s Club of Prairie Grove, and community meals volunteer. She was a Pioneer Resident of Butterfield Trail Village, and 1988 Washington County Pioneer Farm Family. Community involvement, faith, and physical exercise were hallmarks of Jori’s life. Swimming and golfing were always part of her life. In Arkansas, she attended both her husband’s church, Prairie Grove Presbyterian Church and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville. At St. Paul’s she was a volunteer cook for a weekly program that provided noon meals for the needy.

In 1978, she and John qualified Cloverdale Farm for listing on the National Historic Registry; the Tilley House had remained in the family since its construction by John Tilley in 1853. To preserve this heritage, they incorporated the farm. Jori served as the Corporation’s Secretary-Treasurer from 1976 until 2002. In the 1980s, Jori was appointed to the Butterfield Trail Village Corporate board. They moved to Butterfield Trail Village in 1986 where she served in several positions on the Residents’ Association Council including a 1991 term as Council President. In 2006, Jori and two associates compiled and wrote a history of the Residents’ Association published by the BTV Foundation.

After sixty years of marriage, her husband, John, passed away in 2000. She is survived by two sons, Jack and his wife, Peggy, of Black Mountain, North Carolina and Chip Buchanan and his wife, Linda, of Sachse, Texas; by three daughters, Betsy Allen and husband, Edward, of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, Jo Anne Elsken and husband, Michael, and Bonnie Murphy and husband, Rick, both of Fort Smith, Arkansas. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Nathan Allen, Peta Anne Lacy, Michelle Murphy, Meghan Murphy, Durinda Buchanan, Richard Murphy, and four step-grandchildren; last March she welcomed her second great-grandchild to the extended family.

The family of Marjorie Buchanan ask that in lieu of flowers donations be made to St. Paul Episcopal Church (Fayetteville) for the community meals program.