August 10, 1917 – July 28, 2009

Canadian Baptists were saddened to learn of the recent death of Sheila Claire Buchanan on July 28, 2009.

Sheila, the daughter of George Owen and Alice Maude Buchanan, grew up in New Westminster and, at 16, entered the University of British Columbia where she completed her Masters degree in Agriculture. Early in her career, she worked at UBC as Secretary to President MacKenzie and to the Academic Senate. In 1965 she joined the Canadian Baptist Overseas Mission, living in La Paz and Cochabamba, Bolivia. As treasurer she traveled to churches throughout the country. She proudly served for 18 years, returning to Vancouver in 1983. In 1995, she completed her Masters degree in Divinity at McMaster University after a year's study.

Sheila was a long time, dedicated member of Vancouver First Baptist Church who worked in the library on Sunday mornings and in the church office on Mondays for many years. She was also a member of the University Women's Club in Vancouver where she was involved in French and Spanish conversation groups for a number of years.

Sheila was a great inspiration to her six nieces and nephews and, in recent years, to her many great-nieces and nephews and all who met her. She possessed a fine mind, a razor sharp wit and tremendous fortitude. She was an inveterate traveller. Her excellent scrabble game and her ability to complete cryptic crosswords kept us in awe. She never forgot a birthday; her boundless memory stayed with her to the end. All who knew her loved her.

A Memorial Service was held 1:30 pm Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at First Baptist Church, 969 Burrard St., Vancouver, BC.