Gaylen Jane Buck
March 6, 1942 – August 10, 2024

Gaylen Jane Buck, daughter of James and Ora Ione (Green) Miller, was born March 6, 1942, in Oto, Iowa. Gaylen was baptized in 1944 at the Oto Federated Church in Oto, Iowa.

Gaylen attended grade school in Sedan, Minnesota, Oto, Iowa, and Yale, Iowa. She graduated from Brooten High School in Brooten, Minnesota, where she was class Salutatorian. After high school Gaylen worked as a purchasing clerk for Woolworths Company in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

On August 27, 1960, Gaylen was united in marriage with Richard Reynolds in Glenwood, Minnesota. To this union they were blessed with five children, Craig, Carla, Chad, Cione, and Camille.

Gaylen worked as a nurse’s aide for three years at St. Joseph Hospital in Sioux City and for six years in the nursery at Conway Memorial Hospital in Arkansas. While in Arkansas, she also worked at the Dan Dee Dog and the Co-Ed Café. This eventually led to Gaylen owning and operating Gail’s Bar and Grill in Vail, Iowa.

On February 14, 1981, Gaylen was untied in marriage with Michael Wayne Buck in Denison, Iowa. They made their home in Vail where they continued to operate Gail’s Bar and Grill until 1989. She then helped her husband Michael with his construction company and also ran Mother’s Helper Child Care. In 1991 Gaylen started working at Eventide Lutheran Home in Denison, until her retirement due to poor health.

Gaylen was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Blue Birds, Cub Scouts, and was a Sunday School teacher. She enjoyed crocheting and tending to her flowers. She also enjoyed camping, reading, and ball games. Most of all Gaylen cherished her time with her family, especially all of her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great-great grandchild.

Gaylen died Saturday, August 10, 2024, at Black Hawk Care Center in Lake View, Iowa, attaining the age of 82 years, 5 months, and 4 days.

She was preceded in death by her parents, James and Ione Miller, husband Michael Buck, first husband Richard Reynolds, great grandson Hudson Briner, grandson-in-law Joshua Jederberg, nephew David Lea, great nephew Chad Judge, father and mother-in-law Keith and Claire Buck, brothers-in-law Lloyd Lea and John Higgins, and sisters-in-law Denise Miller and Patty Higgins.

Those remaining to cherish her memory include her children Craig Reynolds (Suzy Martinez) of Maryville, Missouri; Carla (Dan) Graham of Murdock, Nebraska; Chad (Nancy) Reynolds of Vail, Iowa; Cione Maack of Carroll, Iowa; Camille Schurke (Jim Schmidt) of Wykoff, Minnesota; 14 grandchildren; 31 great grandchildren; 1 great-great grandchild; siblings Beulah Lea of Colombia Heights, Minnesota; James Miller of Vail, Iowa; Scott (Mary) Miller of Gallatin, Minnesota; many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

A private family funeral service was officiated by Rev. Owen Englin at Pauley Jones Funeral Home in Denison, Iowa. Craig Reynolds II, Nathan Reynolds, Justin Opperman, Channing Reynolds, Andrew Haggerty, Bradon Dobernecker, Lucas Maack, Ashley Briner, Natalie Reynolds, Kiley Reynolds, Megan Ludwig, Krystina Schmidt, Amber Rogers, and Elizabeth Schurke served as honorary pallbearers. Inurnment is being held at a later date in the Little Sioux Township Cemetery in Smithland, Iowa.

Pauley Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

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