Elizabeth Ann (Leavell) Buchanan

Elizabeth Ann “Sib” Buchanan, our beloved mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully on the morning of July 23, surrounded by her grateful and devoted family. She was born Elizabeth Ann Leavell May 1, 1928 to Freda Brown Leavell and Fred W. Leavell, DDS, of New Castle, Indiana. “Sib” attended Indiana University and was for many years a successful insurance executive, retiring as a Vice President of Wells and Company. She was witty, playful, and endlessly kind, with a love for jazz, movies, crosswords, mysteries, and coffee. She was an accomplished and professional businesswoman with the soul of an artist, who performed as a tap dancer in USO shows during WW II— and a loving single mom who found time to volunteer with the Cub Scouts and bake eagerly anticipated rhubarb pies. She was preceded in death by her cherished younger brother, Fred Leavell. She is survived by her four children, Michael, Cathy “Cat”, Brad (Elizabeth), and Margo Buchanan (Mike Friedman). She was crowned with the nickname “Gigi” by her grandchildren Megan Hendrickson (James), Zach Buchanan (Callie), Ian Buchanan (Shea Connelly), Sarah Kasler (Taylor) and Nathan, Emma, and Noah Friedman-Buchanan, as well as her great grandchildren Elizabeth Ann “Lizzy”, Liam, Logan, Kenzie, Lyons, Ronan, Barrett, Finian, and Rowan. She met every challenge of her long and fruitful life with determination and grace, and was always a strength, support, and delight to those she leaves behind.

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