Margaret Buck

August 5, 1951 ~ April 16, 2009

Our loving mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and lover of our lives, Margaret Buck, returned to our loving Father in Heaven after completing her earthly journey on April 16, 2009.

Born on the Navajo Reservation on August 5, 1951 in Bluff, UT to Fernando Begaye and Hattie Smith Abe.

They were blessed with five children besides Margaret, including Daisy Buck, Leila Blackhorse, Samuel Buck and John Yellowman.

Margaret belonged to the Bit’anii and born for the Hak’aandzoi clan. She is survived by one daughter, Cheryle Atcitty Harvey of Montezuma Creek, and four grandchildren, Jami, Megan Jerrick and Nia and her 84 year old mother Hattie Smith Abe.

Margaret also adopted as brother and sisters Anthony Done, Debbie Orvin, Kathy Carson, Patrice Walton of Key West, Florida and ten others. She will be remembered as a kind person with a great sense of humor. She had many friends and relatives all over the Navajo Reservation.

Margaret was a Special Ed ucation teacher at Montezuma Creek Elementary School in the San Juan School District for 23 years.

She graduated from San Juan High School in 1971. She graduated from Weber State College in 1991, obtaining a Masters Degree from the University of Utah in 1995.

She also worked as an Emergency Medical Technician for 20 years and as an Licensed Practical Nurse at the Allen Memorial Hospital in Moab, UT. Other than six years in Moab, Margaret spent her whole life in San Juan County.

She joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while still in high school and had many church assignments. She taught her daughter to always “Trust in the Lord.”

“Through tears and trials, through fears and sorrows, through the heartache and loneliness of losing loved ones, there is assurance that life is everlasting. Our Lord and Savior is the living witness that such is so.” – Thomas S. Monson.

She was a great Utah Jazz fan and kept up by watching them on television. She was also proud of her nephew’s county western band, “Lower Deck.” She often wore the band’s t-shirt.

She learned early how to make Navajo baskets. She also did beadwork, silversmith and sewing.

The funeral was April 22, 2009 at the Blanding LDS Stake Center, with Bishop Clayton Long conducting. The Children of Lehi Choir sang, “I Need Thee Every Hour,” in Navajo. Eulogies were given by Cheryle Harvey and Sylvia Ben.

Bishop Brooke Hansen conducted gravesite services. Margaret was buried at the Blanding Cemetery in Blanding, UT.