Merle Lawrence Kendall (Kendall) Buckhout

Merle Lawrence Kendall Buckhout, 94, born October 28, 1929, passed to heaven peacefully from home on June 3, 2024. Married for 71 years, Merle was predeceased in death by her loving husband Edwin (Ted) Buckhout. Merle leaves 6 children: Wayne (Sandi) of So. Hadley, Terry (Sherry) of Haverhill, Keith (Chris) of Easthampton, Leigh of Hadley, Diane (Scott) of Ohio and Daryl (LeAnn) of Maryland. 16 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, one great great grandchild, and nephews. She is also survived by her sister, Norma Ritter and sister-in-law, Cynthia R. Watson. Merle, a graduate of Hopkins Academy (Hadley) and UMass (Amherst), received a BS then an MA in Environmental Studies. Merle was a sister of Pi Beta Phi sorority enjoying the continued camaraderie and gatherings. She taught in the Northampton and Belchertown Schools but spent most of her teaching career in the sciences at Hopkins Academy. Merle left education to work for the Department of Environmental Pollution, (DEP). Residing in Hockanum and the town of Hadley were her lifelong loves.  This led to many of her passions to serve in groups including the Hockanum Villagers Association, the Friends of Mt. Holyoke Range, which helped to preserve the Summit House, and was President of the Mt. Holyoke Range Advisory board. Together with Ted, they worked with TRIAD for the town of Hadley, received the Merle and Ted Buckhout Award from the Seven Sisters Trail Race in April of 2022, and were the recipients of the W. Fred Oakley Jr. 2019 Award as Lifelong residents of Hockanum Village, distinguished by their service to community and country.  In 1982, along with Fred Pylon they started the Summit Run 5K Road Race which is still running today. Merle heartly committed her life to serving our great country behind the scenes without uniform or medals and with few accolades. She enjoyed tracking her family and friends as they traveled via her Atlas and would regularly be found at home buried in a book, the newspaper or watching the weather channel. To know Merle was to know that anything she chose to participate in meant she was all in. She will be missed. Visiting hours will be held at the Dillon Funeral Home Inc. 124 Chestnut St Holyoke, Ma. 01040 on Monday June 10th from 5- 8 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at the First Congregational Church, 102 Middle St. Hadley Ma. 01035 on Thursday June 13th at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Cooley Dickinson Hospice, 30 Locust St Northampton Ma. 01060 for the remarkable care given to Merle and her family.

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