Cover photo for JoDee Buchanan's Obituary
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1935 JoDee 2025

JoDee Buchanan

June 20, 1935 — May 27, 2025

JoDee was born on June 20th 1935 in Porterville California in Tulane County. Her parents were Lorie Coolidge-Richter and William Richter. She grew up in Northern California, not too for from San Francisco close to olive trees and grape vines. Later after her sister Lynda Lorie Richter was born, the family moved to Lindsay California. Although the second world war had started, they lived in a peaceful area protected from the world around. Tragedy struck when close to the end of the civil war, her father, William Richter, a pilot in the Air Force was shot down over the seas of England. JoDee was awarded a purple heart and an American flag in honor of the loss of her father.

Her mother Lorie remarried to another pilot in the Air Force, Frank Chenoweth. With that marriage, Jodee received a sister, Camilee Chenoweth, and later a brother, Tom Chenoweth. They were a happy blended family. Soon the family would move to North Hollywood California to live a suburban lifestyle. Jodee first attended Hollywood High School, until North Hollywood got a new Campus, where she started North Hollywood High. She was a bright and popular student, always fun and a friend to everyone.

Soon after she graduated North Hollywood High, she would marry the love of her life, Odell Buchanan whom she had met in high school. She then gave birth to her first child, Kim Lorie Buchanan, two brothers followed, Bret and Steve Buchanan. The family lived in a close- knit neighborhood in Van Nuys California. Where the children all attended Hazeltine Avenue grammar school and later Madison junior high.

The family moved on to Northridge, where JoDee would entertain, having many parties and back-yard barbeques. She was always one to invite as many friends as possible and family that would fill the house. She loved to cook and was very good at it. She also started an affinity for fitness. She loved to attend the YMCA regularly. She went to Jane Fonda fitness classes when Jane Fonda herself would instruct. She also took up jogging and could be seen by her own kids and others who now attended Monroe High School as she ran laps around the school.

Later, she and Odell would move to Santa Paula, they were empty nesters now and lived among the citrus and avocado trees with a birds-eye view of Santa Paula. They still gave the parties and barbeques as many grandsons started to be born, Hunter, Justin, Trevor and Dylan. It was a boy family for certain. They cherished their grandsons and often baby-sat them as well. As they grew older, Odell got sick with Pancreatic cancer and soon died. Leaving JoDee heart broken. She soon found solace in her children, grandchildren and also her great grandchildren. In later life, she had become her own person. Would turn her house in Santa Paula into the house of her dreams. She lived a good long life and was loved by many.

May the treasure box of her memory leave a glow in everyone’s heart forever.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of JoDee Buchanan, please visit our flower store.

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Celebration of Life

Saturday, June 21, 2025

11:30am - 1:30 pm (Pacific time)

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PEREZ FAMILY FUNERAL HOME-MOORPARK

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Reception

Saturday, June 21, 2025

2:00 - 4:00 pm (Pacific time)

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Ninety-Five at Lucky Fools Pub

95 E High St, Moorpark, CA 93021

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