Miss Katherine Isabelle Buckley, age 96, of Raleigh, North Carolina, passed away Tuesday, March 11, 2014 at the Golden Care Assisted Living facility in Wallace, North Carolina.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at Edenton Street Methodist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina. The service will be conducted by Pastor Will Hasley.

Miss Buckley was born July 27, 1917, in Rural Retreat, Virginia. She was the daughter of Robert Roscoe and Kathleen Clark Buckley. She was a member of the Edenton Street Methodist Church and since moving to Wallace, regularly attended the Wallace Presbyterian Church.

She is survived by one sister, Janie Louise Cornett of Roanoke, Virginia and a brother, William (Bill) Buckley of Wallace, North Carolina. She was preceded in death by a second sister, Martha McDonald McCarren. She is also survived by once niece, Kathy (Noell) Tillett of Durham, North Carolina and four nephews: Bill (Vicki) Cornett of Roanoke, Virginia, Bob (Jeannie) Cornett of Roanoke, Virginia, Billy McCarren of Roanoke, Virginia and Bill (Jan) Buckley of Abbeville, Georgia.

Many would say that "Aunt Ibby" never married -- and never raised a family -- simply because she was far too busy helping to raise thousands of families in Virginia and North Carolina.

Her interest in home economics began early. While in high school, Isabelle created a "project" out of younger brother Bill who needed to gain weight in order to play varsity sports. Her planned menus and supervised nutrition worked! Later, Bill played both high school and collegiate football. Her interest in home economics and "family" grew as she did.

She graduated from Madison College (now James Madison University) in Harrisonburg, Virginia with a degree in Home Economics Education and taught home economics in Virginia high schools for 9 years. Because she felt it was important, she dared to teach human sexuality to youth well prior to endorsements by family service agencies.

In 1948, she moved to North Carolina as a Family Life Education Coordinator of an adult education program for mill workers. From 1953 to 1967, she served as the Home Economics Extension Agent for Rockingham County.

She served as President of the North Carolina Association of Extension Home Economists in 1964 and was presented with the Distinguished Service Award from the National Home Economists Association in 1965.

As the primary caregiver of an aging mother and growing older herself, her family focus continued to grow. From 1967 to 1983, she initiated, planned and carried out a Gerontology program to assist families in understanding and coping with the aging process and the special needs of later life.

Because achieving an education was - to Isabelle - a life-long continuation, she earned a Masters degree from North Carolina State University in 1970.

In 1972, she attended the Congress of the International Center for Social Gerontology in Yugoslavia and in 1977 she participated in a 3-week People-to-People study tour to Russia and Czechoslovakia. She also visited facilities for the elderly in Scandinavia.

In 1975, she received the Outstanding Extension Service Award from North Carolina State University. She was one of the early members of the North Carolina Family Life Council and through her work as part of the Council on Aging of Wake County and the National Council on Aging, the Adult Day Care Committee, the Wake County Nursing Home Advisory Committee, The Coalition on Long Term Care and the Home Economics Pacesetters - a group she organized - and her career as a Gerontology specialist, her goal for seniors to "make a difference" was, and continues to be, realized. She retired in 1983, having served North Carolina State as an associate professor of Home Economics.

After a 44 year career of helping families build health and happiness, Isabelle took on the challenge of protecting what she helped build.

Escalating car thefts and break-ins - including her own home being burglarized - was a one of several "calls-to-action" during her retirement years. Designing a flyer for a neighborhood meeting, Buckley helped create a "Community Watch" for 60 families within 19 blocks.

While her countless efforts were focused - for her entire life - on helping to create a better home environment for families, one of her final activities was attending a conference to better understand and cope with the homeless.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorial contributions be made to one of the many organizations Isabelle loved and supported.

You may send condolences to the family by selecting our "Memory Wall" above.
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at Edenton Street Methodist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina.