Donald E. (Bummer) Buckley, Sr.

Herkimer - Donald E. (Bummer) Buckley, Sr., 87, of Herkimer, passed away on Saturday June 9, 2018 at Christiana Hospital, Newark, Delaware, with his loving family by his side.

He was born July 22, 1930 in Little Falls the son of the late Joseph and Dorothy Buckley and was educated in Little Falls schools.

He was married to Carolyn Lawyer who preceded him in death. He was later married to Julia Murphy who also preceded him in death.

Mr. Buckley was a United States Army Air Borne veteran during the Korean Conflict, enlisting on June 17, 1949 and was honorably discharged on August 22, 1952 with the rank of Sergeant. While serving his country, Donald was in the 187th Infantry Rakkasans.

Bummer retired from the former Burrow's Paper Mill in Little Falls, NY after 38 years of dedicated service. He was of the Catholic faith.

He was a member of the Little Falls Elks Lodge Post 42, Little Falls American Legion, Post 31, Herkimer VFW Post 4915 and was active on the Little Falls Democratic Committee. Bummer was heavily involved with the Rakkasans Air Borne Reunions and he was an 18 gallon blood donor to the American Red Cross. In his younger years, he was very active in sports and was still an avid New York Yankee and Washington Redskin Fan.

Survivors include his daughters, Amy Gabriel and her husband Mark of Little Falls, Donna Schanne and her husband Mark of Houston, Delaware and Kelley Chadder of Milford, Delaware; his son, Donald E. Buckley, Jr. and his wife Terri of Herkimer; a son-in-law, William Sagatis of Little Falls; a brother, Richard Buckley and his wife Prudence of Arlington VA; a sister, Betty Pierce and her husband Charles of Long Beach, Washington; a sister-in-law, Eleanor Buckley of Little Falls; his grandchildren, William Sagatis, Jr. (Sara Halstead), Steven Sagatis (fiancée Julie Koch), Carolyn (Marlon) Green, Alisa (Stiles) Bee, Caitlan Schanne, Haley Schanne, Gregg, Tyler, Kimberly, Casey, Cole, Calob, and Charity Buckley, James Scialdone, Max Scialdone, Nick (Ayla) Scialdone, Tony Scialdone, Mike (Janelle) Scialdone, Matt(Traci) Schuyler and Ernie Johnston; great grandchildren, William Sagatis, III, Victoria and Alexander Green, Greer, Ford and Patterson Bee; a life long friend, Anthony Gabriel of Herkimer, and several nieces and nephews and in-law, Joanne Hartlett and John and JoAnn Lawyer.

He was predeceased by his daughter, Linda Sagatis on May 2, 2018; a brother, Joseph Buckley and a sister, Doris Buckley.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday June 14, 2018 at 11:00 am from Holy Family Parish (corner of E. Main and John St.) Little Falls, NY by Reverend Leo Potvin. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, Town of Herkimer, with full military honors accorded.  In keeping with Bummer’s wishes there are no calling hours. Arrangements are under the caring guidance of the Vincent A. Enea Funeral Service, (next to NBT Bank), 527 East Albany Street, Herkimer, NY 315-866-1500. In lieu of flowers please make all memorial contributions to either HALO, 615 E. Albany Street, Little Falls, NY 13365 or to Feed our Vets, Utica Chapter, 195 Genesee St., Utica, NY 13502.

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