Ranger Michael Buchanan

Ranger Michael Buchanan, of Jackson, Tennessee, went to be with our Lord after a valiant battle with cancer on March 26, 2023, at the age of 57. Born in Alton, Illinois, on November 12, 1965, he was the ninth of ten children. He was preceded in death by his mother Rosemary Buchanan, father John Buchanan, and his infant brother William Buchanan. Ranger leaves behind his loving wife of 34 years, Lisa Buchanan and three adoring children, Katie (William) Hawks, Edie Buchanan, and Ranger J. M. Buchanan. He is also survived by nine siblings, Jay (Ray) Mathis, Gari (Bill) Reed, Robin (John) Vollmer, John (Jenny) Buchanan, Kim (Frank) Millitello, Raven (Pama) Buchanan, Lance Buchanan, Craig Buchanan, and Raymie (Dwynn) Isringhausen. There are numerous friends and extended family that cannot possibly be listed but meant the world to him as well.
Ranger was a wonderful person with many experiences that shaped him into the man we all loved so much. Growing up in poverty with nine siblings taught him the values that matter in life, including irrefutable character, accountability, work ethic, dedication, devotion, and compassion. He was instructed in the Catholic faith by his mother and attended Marquette Catholic High School where he graduated in 1984. His childhood friends called him “Buc” and knew him as a football player, math/physics/history genius, and a jokester.
After high school, Ranger attended college and met his steadfast wife, Lisa – “the best thing that ever happened to him.” They eloped on December 15, 1988, with a formal wedding ceremony on July 22, 1989. Before completing college, Ranger joined the military under the GI bill to afford his education. After finishing his service with an honorable discharge, he graduated from the University of Illinois Edwardsville with a Bachelor of Science degree with a focus in mechanical engineering. His first engineering position was with Toyota where he learned the concepts of Kaizen – the Japanese term “to change for the better.” He later became a master Six Sigma Black Belt and an expert in the quality improvement of the manufacturing processes. Ranger was an exceptional teacher and mentored dozens of engineers throughout his career including his own son. His final job was at Delta Faucet Company as the quality improvement manager, retiring in 2021 after 12 years.
While Ranger was a successful engineer with a brilliant mind and a gift for solving complex problems, his greatest joy in life was being a father. He prioritized his family above all else in order to watch his children grow up, play sports, and become successful. He attended nearly every sports event (100s over the years) and supported them through every stage to achieve their personal and educational goals. He will be remembered for the songs and stories he devised to entertain his children and for the deep love and devotion he showed them daily. He also will be remembered for his impeccable memory and for not letting them get away with anything! He was so excited to become a grandparent but was taken too soon just before his first grandchild, a grandson, is to be born.
Ranger will be forever missed by the people who love and cherish him. He is an irreplaceable husband, father, friend, colleague, and mentor. He would always stand up for what was right, even if it was not easy nor the status quo. His positivity, honesty, and faith inspired so many, especially when facing a life-altering diagnosis. He embodied the concept of Kaizen where he made everyone’s lives around him better and are all better because of him.
SERVICES: The wake and funeral services for Ranger will be Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 1665 US-45 Bypass, Jackson, TN 38305. Burial will follow at Ridgecrest Cemetery.
The family will be receiving friends Friday, March 31, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Arrington Funeral Directors. Visitation will also be on Saturday morning, April 1, 2023, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church from 9:30 a.m. until the service time at 10:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Mary’s School, 1665 US-45 By-Pass, Jackson, TN 38305, or online at www.stmarys.tn.org for a tuition scholarship for students in need. Please designate that your memorial is on behalf of Ranger Buchanan.
The family would like to express the utmost gratitude to Ranger’s treatment teams at the Siteman and Kirkland Cancer Centers. They would also like to thank West Tennessee Hospice and the staff of 9B at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital for taking care of Ranger during this heartbreaking time to make his final days as comfortable and worthwhile as possible.

Arrington Funeral Directors 148 W. University Parkway Jackson, TN 38305
731.668.1111 www.arringtonfuneralgroup.com