Marianne Buchanan

Marianne Buchanan, gifted daughter of Robert Dell and Dorothy Jacobs Buchanan, died peacefully on April 27, 2023 at the age of 88, after dealing with several years of worsening health issues. At the time of her passing, she had been living at the Peaks at South Jordan long-term care facility in South Jordan, Utah. Marianne had a happy childhood, growing up in Richfield, Utah, thriving and enjoying the advantages of the small town where her father (“Grandpa Dell”) had made his living as a proud farmer. From an early age, she excelled at living life. She made lasting friends early and often. Her youth friendship circle, a loyal group well into her older years, was known as “The Solar System,” with Marianne’s part/planet being that of Earth. In her youth she served as vice-president of Richfield High School, was active in all aspects of school and social life, and became Ms. Richfield. From youth well beyond adulthood, she loved beautiful things and loved to share beauty with everyone around her. You could not escape her sharing a view, an image, or a beautiful thought with you just at the moment it appeared to her. She adored anything to do with the arts, whether acting in school plays, singing with the school chorus, or studying poetry and English – and she excelled in music, whether singing, absorbing, or just appreciating. Graduating high school in 1953, she attended the University of Utah, gaining a Bachelor’s degree in Education in 1957. At college, Marianne added to her group of friends and social interests, becoming Homecoming Queen, with her photo being the first color image published in the Salt Lake Tribune. In college, she was an active member of Delta Delta Delta (“the tri delts”) sorority, served as president of the Women’s Recreation Association, and participated in many student activities, including lending her beautifully rich, soprano voice to the University Chorus. After a year of post-college teaching, Marianne married Eric W. Kirchhoefer and the couple moved to Portland, Oregon, where they developed a close-knit group of friends that continued to the end of her life. Their three children were born in Portland, a city whose beauty Marianne never forgot: Michelle (Kurt Hadfield), Steve and Rob (Amber Sechrist). While the children were still young, the family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. After some years in Scottsdale, Marianne and Erich divorced; Marianne and the children moved back to her beloved Richfield, Utah where she furthered a 35-year teaching career. While in Richfield, Marianne affiliated with many singing and performing groups, took roles in community plays, and was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, leading the congregational singing for most of those years. The red soil of Richfield ran deep in her soul. There was hardly an aspect or a person she did not affect or impact – arguably, most of all, the hundreds of students she taught in first and second grade. Both during and after her years of teaching in Monroe and Richfield, she had cherished visits from former students, telling their former “Mrs. K” of the great impact she had on their young and developing lives. Richfield (and its people) and Marianne had a deep bond. After her kids had all left home, Marianne moved to Salt Lake City where she continued teaching in the Granite School District. In Salt Lake, she continued her community involvement, serving in various positions with the Assistance League, the Utah Symphony Guild, and the Utah Opera Guild. She used her creative abilities in many capacities. Her memory was phenomenal, prompting her to sing any song or recite any poem at any time. She loved her extended family, her rich pioneer history, and her Jacobs and Buchanan cousins with a Marianne fervor, always making visits with them fun and memorable, and she never missed an opportunity to instill the importance of her family heritage with friends and family. She was preceded in death by her parents and former husband. She is survived by her 7 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren and her sister, Kay (Mrs. J. Thomas Greene). The family wishes to thank the caregivers at the Auberge at Aspen Park and The Peaks at South Jordan for their efforts in taking care of Marianne, as well as Harmony Hospice. There are also, numerous other assisting angels who had an incredible impact on her life in its more-difficult, later years. Funeral will be handled by Premier Funeral Services, with the funeral at Premier Funeral Services Salt Lake facility (67 East 8000 South, SLC, UT 84047), Thursday, May 4th. Visitation will be from 4:30 – 6:00pm, services from 6:30 – 7:30pm. Burial will be Friday, May 5th at the Richfield City Cemetery in Richfield, Utah, 1:00pm.

Marianne Buchanan

February 4, 1935 - April 27, 2023