Obituary of Christopher H Buchan

Christopher H. Buchan, age 60 of Whitehouse Station, NJ, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home on Tuesday, July 7, 2015. Born in England in the Borough of Paddington, he was the son of the late Franklin and Patricia Buchan. He resided in Whitehouse and the surrounding area since 1972. When Chris came to America from England with his family as a young child in 1961, he was extremely disappointed to find that the United States was not full of cowboys. He in turn, did the next best thing, and became one himself. He would not go anywhere without wearing his beloved cowboy boots or his Levi jeans with a big belt buckle emblazoned with an eagle. He was truly proud to attain his US Citizenship and always had the American flag displayed prominently in his home. Chris suffered from schizophrenia since he was a young adult. I make this fact public to let all know his absolute bravery throughout his life in facing this terrible disease head on. Despite the odds against him, he lived a fulfilling life and most certainly, on his own terms. He was part of the military, earned a college degree, enjoyed multiple careers, all the while being a loving son, sibling, devoted husband, brother in law and step father. All of these things, that he was told he could not attain after diagnosis, he did, and then some. The love of his life was his wife Denise. She was his everything and they were, without a doubt, soul mates. After almost 30 years together, she predeceased him in December of 2014. The loss of her was too much for him and his health declined drastically. Please be thankful that he lived a very full life, that his suffering is over and that he is now at peace, side by side, with his wife. What Chris always had, which no disease or illness could ever take away from him, was a very big and extremely generous heart. It is the loss of that kind, brave, heart that we mourn today. If you wish to honor his memory, there are many things you can do. Raise a cold beer in a toast and remember the conversations, his terrible jokes and especially his laugh, that hearty, full out laugh followed by that big gap toothed smile. Or listen to one of his favorite musical artists, Patsy Cline. Chris absolutely loved all animals and would defend them to no end. A donation in his name to the ASPCA or your local animal shelter of choice would be something he would have loved. He is survived by his brother, Paul Bruce Mason and his wife, Oknye and their children, Paul Jr. and Cynthia. His sister, Ann Angharad Buchan and her fiancé, Richard Newman. His step children, Jennifer McCarthy and her husband John, Nicholas Zito, Phoebe Ray and her husband James. Sisters in law, Sue Morrow and Lyndell Cronce and her husband Jim. Brothers in law Jim Cronce, Robert Dickson and wife Sheila. Services will be private.