My sister, Brenda, was born in the old Haywood County Hospital in Waynesville, NC on October 20, 1941. Our father, Leo Buckner, re-enlisted in the U.S. Navy shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor and was assigned, as a result of his previous service from 1937 until 1941, to the Naval Base in Norfolk, VA. He taught anti-aircraft gunnery throughout World War Two and he and my mother Lois raised Brenda for most of the first five years of her life, on the Naval Base in Norfolk.

At the conclusion of the war l, the family moved back to Waynesville, NC and Brenda was raised there. She attended Central Elementary School and graduated from Waynesville Township High School in 1959. She had begun playing the piano in elementary school and was an accomplished musician who was drawn to many forms of the art. She played violin in the WTHS Orchestra and later switched to the string bass. Brenda enrolled in Mars Hill College to begin her sophomore year and graduated in 1965 from Western Carolina University with a BS Degree in Elementary Education.

As a student at Western Carolina, Brenda participated in the Marching Band and at the Concert Band programs. Additionally, she was active as a musician performing in musicals presented by the “Little Theatre” on campus.

Brenda graduated in May of 1965 and shortly afterward signed a teaching contract which relocated her in Key West, FL. After completing her first year of teaching in Key West, she returned to Waynesville where she was employed by the Haywood County School System. She served as an elementary educator until her early retirement was precipitated by deafness. After her retirement she worked with her mother in one of Waynesville’s early gift stores, “The Country Mouse.” Brenda later opened and managed a similar store in Maggie Valley.

She married Jim Dockery in 1986, and they remained married until his death in 2012. She was also preceded in death by her dear parents, Lois and Leo Buckner and her beloved nephew and niece, Michael Buckner and Kristin Buckner Moore.

Brenda is survived by her brother, Bob Buckner and his wife, Donna, both of Waynesville. She is also survived by her nephew, Andy Buckner, and her nieces, Ginger Belcher Zsambeky, Lyn Belcher Metzger, and her great nieces and nephews:  Emily Moore, Turner Zsambeky, Erin Moore, Parish Metzger, Leah Catherine Zsambeky and Andy Moore.

A celebration of life is scheduled on August 30, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the Barberville Baptist Church where Brenda was a member for several years.  Visitation with the family will begin at 1:00 PM.  

The care of Mrs. Dockery has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.