David Carlton Buckner

David Carlton Buckner, Sr. was born on December 28, 1945 in Dublin, Texas.  While he only lived in Texas as a newborn, he was always a Texan at heart.  His favorite flower is the yellow rose of Texas, and one of his latest dreams was to own an Alpaca Farm there. The Buckner family moved to Phoenix, AZ in 1946 and settled in the south Phoenix area where David and his siblings, Patricia Kay and Louis Raymond were raised.  David attended school in the Roosevelt school district at Roosevelt Elementary and later, South Mountain High School, graduating with the class of 1963.   David met the love of his life, Nita "Dee Dee" Meyers at South Mountain High where they were both athletes and students. Dee Dee and David were married after high school graduation on July 19, 1963 in Hemet, CA.  Their marriage was later solemnized in the Mesa Arizona Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  David received a baseball scholarship to Phoenix College.  He later attended ASU where he graduated with an English major and a minor in Physical Education.  After graduation, he was a police officer for the Phoenix Police Department for seven years.  Later, he worked for New York Life, American Bankers, and owned his own insurance agency.  David retired from the industry in 2012. David and Dee Dee lived with their three children in Phoenix, AZ, Albuquerque, NM, Denver, CO, Pleasant Hill, California, Gilbert and Mesa, AZ.  He was quite active in his church, holding callings in Boy Scouts and with the youth, as well as coaching baseball and football teams for his son and friends.   David’s loved ones who will miss him here include: his wife, Dee Dee, of Mesa, AZ; his children Marguss Tantalo (Augie) of Tempe, AZ and David “DJ” Buckner (Jennifer) of Gilbert AZ; his 10 grandchildren:  Emma Darner (Jordan), Capri Goudy (Tyson), Austin Conant (Liz), Harley Stotler, Kyle Stotler, Hayden Buckner, Trent Buckner, Colton Buckner, Grace Buckner, Grant Buckner; nephew Riley Finter;  brother, Louis and sister Patricia.  He is also survived by his six great-grandchildren. He joins his parents, Louise and Carl, and his daughter Dawn. The funeral service will begin 11:00 A.M., Friday, March 31, 2017 at the Monterey Ward Chapel of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 7145 E. Monterey Avenue in Mesa, Arizona, where the visitation will begin 1 hour prior.  The Buckner family will be using Crismon Flowers in downtown Mesa to provide the beautiful floral casket spray and invite others to use them as well.  David’s family is thankful for all of the expressions of sympathy they have received during this difficult season and are especially grateful for the prayers offered up on their behalf.