Judge Sidney R. Buckley

Judge Sidney R. Buckley

June 30, 1921 – November 12, 2013

On November 12, Judge Sidney R. Buckley, 92, longtime resident of Kettle Falls, passed away surrounded by his family. Third generation homesteader, Sid was born to Russell and Mamie (Thorp) Buckley on June 30, 1921, on the family homestead in Chesaw, Washington.  He graduated from Kettle Falls High School in 1939, valedictorian of an impressive class of 12.  Since backwaters of the new Grand Coulee Dam were about to inundate Kettle Falls, he spent that Summer helping dismantle and move his high school.

His ticket to college during those Depression years was first football to Whitworth College and then boxing at Washington State College.  World War II interrupted all of that.  Glasses and a missing thumb denied him combat eligibility, so he found himself in “the genius corps” — Army Specialized Training Program in Berkeley.  The school for brilliant odd-balls folded after nine months of intensive engineering training just when the 11^th Armored needed extra bodies for European duty.  Sid finagled his way into a combat unit just in time for the Battle of the Bulge.  He was walking point on lookout one February night in 1945 near Afs, Belgium, when he stepped on a landmine.  He survived.

The G.I. Bill afforded him access to U W Law School. Within the year, he met Ruby Rae Bisson, the vivacious daughter of an old family friend.  She was also attending the University of Washington.  They married on June 12, 1948, moved to Colville, and opened a law practice. The couple moved their growing family to Sid’s relocated home town of Kettle Falls in 1953.  He and Rae helped found the Democratic Central Committee in Stevens County. Between work as city attorney and volunteer time with the Kettle Falls Lions Club and Shrine, Sid played a lead role in building the community swimming pool, securing rights for the city water system and “stealing” the lights for the high school football field.  Along with old friend Arthur Avey, he even convinced a mutual friend, Senator Henry M. “Scoop” Jackson, to pass congressional legislation that authorized the building of an airstrip across the Canadian border near Laurier, Washington.

In 1956 he was elected prosecutor for Stevens County, a position he served in for 12 years before returning to private practice where he could provide legal assistance to the community where he was raised.  As an attorney,  Sid argued in front of the Washington State Supreme Court. One precedent-setting landmark case is still taught in Washington State law schools today.  He was elected to the Superior Court in 1972 and served on the benches of Stevens, Pend Oreille, and Ferry Counties for 12 years.

Judge Buckley spent his retirement from law indulging in his other loves: gardening, reading and travelling the world with his best friend Ruby Rae.

For all Judge Sid Buckley gave to his community, he gave his family even more.  His daughters will always be thankful to him for his love, support and guidance.  He taught them how to graft a rose, use a chainsaw, argue both sides of any issue and be active members of their communities.  Most importantly, he taught them the value of family.

Sid was preceded in death by his third daughter, Shauna Lynn.  He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Rae, daughters Apanakhi Jeri Buckley, Sydney Jean Buckley Blank and her husband Tom Blank, Betty Buckley and her husband Gregg Caudell, Jody Russelle Buckley, Erin Buckley-Noonan  and her husband Kurt Noonan, along with nine grandchildren and many, many friends.

Gifts in memory would be welcomed at the food bank and public assistance organization Sid helped found: KF Community Chest, P.O. Box 1145, Kettle Falls, WA 99141.

It was a fine life.