Amanda Garcia (Buchanan) Memorial
Donation protected
Shortly after her 43rd birthday my sister, Amanda Garcia, passed suddenly on September 13, 2016; due to a head injury sustained from a fall. The fall was partially caused by the wear and tear that her body had sustained battling a chronic disease that had afflicted her for many years. Her health has been failing for many years and it has been agonizing for all of us to watch as her condition spiraled out of control.
Amanda and I were born in Corvallis, Oregon and raised inseparably in Burntwoods Oregon. Although we have a half-brother in California, we only met him a couple of times. So Amanda is the only sibling I've ever known. Right now I am still in shock. We were supposed to grow old together. Your older sister is the one you count on to have your back, and Amanda protected me from some unimaginable things. I am trying to wrap my head around the fact that she is no longer here. All I can do is believe that she is still looking out for me somewhere. I just have to.
Amanda leaves behind her husband of 12 years. She also leaves behind a son, O’Shey; age 22, another son, Sirus (sounds like Cyrus); age 13, and a daughter, Serena; age 9. Of all of the reasons I loved my sister, the children with whom she blessed the world were the greatest. I have been blessed with a relationship with them that is very close. There is absolutely nothing that I wouldn’t do for them. I and my partner Randy were very fortunate last year to have purchased a house very near to them so we can always be there for them. They have a small “village” of extended family and friends who love them very much and who will always be watching out for them.
Unfortunately, the family was more than struggling financially even before this tragedy. My brother-in-law, Alejandro, works 7 days a week. Five of those days, he commutes over an hour each way to work a swing shift filled with physically demanding labor in a warehouse. The other two days, he washes dishes in a restaurant. It takes a toll on him; yet he still manages to be selfless as well as the kindest, most loving father anyone could ever hope for. To make matters even more difficult, as there often are when someone dies; the family will require serious legal assistance. Alejandro is more than a brother-in-law to me; in my heart, he is my brother. My partner and I, my mother Verlyn, my father John, and our “Auntie” DeeDee will all make sure that we are there for the kids in the evenings when Alejandro is at work. However, love and emotional support isn’t always enough.
I do not have children of my own; so long ago I dedicated my heart and all of my “motherly energies” to my niece and nephews. They are my heart and soul. O’Shey is an adult and lives independently. Sirus is in middle school. He is growing rapidly. He loves his little sister and always looks out for her. It warms my heart. He is athletic and active in “Bomb Squad” a local youth group here in town. Serena is the kind of little girl who literally lights up a room with her energy and her smile. She is very creative as well, and she loves her animals. They have been through so much and always amaze me at how loving and sweet they all are despite having such a difficult life. They are going to have to grow up really fast now, and it breaks my heart.
Our family will do everything in our power to honor my sister’s legacy and take care of her children. They will need all of the things that children need over the years; food (teenage boys need a lot of food), clothing, medical care, and security. We want to see them grow into happy, productive adults. We want to send them to college someday, if they so choose. They have been through so much…
I don’t know that I could ever ask for money for myself, but I will do so for these children. I am asking for any size donation that you might see in your heart to provide. Even the smallest amount will help, and I cannot stress that enough. The money will be used for legal assistance, the cremation and memorial service, and for helping the family with miscellaneous day to day expenses as they transition to their life without Amanda.
Bless you for caring enough to read this far. If you cannot donate, I ask that you please forward this to your friends and family. Thank you so much in advance for your kindness and love.
Sincerely,
Ruby Buchanan
Amanda and I were born in Corvallis, Oregon and raised inseparably in Burntwoods Oregon. Although we have a half-brother in California, we only met him a couple of times. So Amanda is the only sibling I've ever known. Right now I am still in shock. We were supposed to grow old together. Your older sister is the one you count on to have your back, and Amanda protected me from some unimaginable things. I am trying to wrap my head around the fact that she is no longer here. All I can do is believe that she is still looking out for me somewhere. I just have to.
Amanda leaves behind her husband of 12 years. She also leaves behind a son, O’Shey; age 22, another son, Sirus (sounds like Cyrus); age 13, and a daughter, Serena; age 9. Of all of the reasons I loved my sister, the children with whom she blessed the world were the greatest. I have been blessed with a relationship with them that is very close. There is absolutely nothing that I wouldn’t do for them. I and my partner Randy were very fortunate last year to have purchased a house very near to them so we can always be there for them. They have a small “village” of extended family and friends who love them very much and who will always be watching out for them.
Unfortunately, the family was more than struggling financially even before this tragedy. My brother-in-law, Alejandro, works 7 days a week. Five of those days, he commutes over an hour each way to work a swing shift filled with physically demanding labor in a warehouse. The other two days, he washes dishes in a restaurant. It takes a toll on him; yet he still manages to be selfless as well as the kindest, most loving father anyone could ever hope for. To make matters even more difficult, as there often are when someone dies; the family will require serious legal assistance. Alejandro is more than a brother-in-law to me; in my heart, he is my brother. My partner and I, my mother Verlyn, my father John, and our “Auntie” DeeDee will all make sure that we are there for the kids in the evenings when Alejandro is at work. However, love and emotional support isn’t always enough.
I do not have children of my own; so long ago I dedicated my heart and all of my “motherly energies” to my niece and nephews. They are my heart and soul. O’Shey is an adult and lives independently. Sirus is in middle school. He is growing rapidly. He loves his little sister and always looks out for her. It warms my heart. He is athletic and active in “Bomb Squad” a local youth group here in town. Serena is the kind of little girl who literally lights up a room with her energy and her smile. She is very creative as well, and she loves her animals. They have been through so much and always amaze me at how loving and sweet they all are despite having such a difficult life. They are going to have to grow up really fast now, and it breaks my heart.
Our family will do everything in our power to honor my sister’s legacy and take care of her children. They will need all of the things that children need over the years; food (teenage boys need a lot of food), clothing, medical care, and security. We want to see them grow into happy, productive adults. We want to send them to college someday, if they so choose. They have been through so much…
I don’t know that I could ever ask for money for myself, but I will do so for these children. I am asking for any size donation that you might see in your heart to provide. Even the smallest amount will help, and I cannot stress that enough. The money will be used for legal assistance, the cremation and memorial service, and for helping the family with miscellaneous day to day expenses as they transition to their life without Amanda.
Bless you for caring enough to read this far. If you cannot donate, I ask that you please forward this to your friends and family. Thank you so much in advance for your kindness and love.
Sincerely,
Ruby Buchanan
Organizer
Ruby Buchanan
Organizer
Corvallis, OR