February 5, 1930 to December 3, 2023

Nell Buchanan Lester passed in the peacefulness of her own home on the morning of December 3, 2023, in Grass Valley after a short illness at the age of 93. She lived a life full of people and for people.

Nell was the ultimate volunteer. Passionate about helping people of all ages, she gave freely of her time as a PTA president, Girl Scout leader, school board president and transporter of many high school band kids. She was involved with Friends of the Roseville Library, neighborhood art groups, and was an avid bridge player. She did all this while managing everything on the home front, including making homemade bread. Then just to change things up, she took a part time job as veterinary receptionist providing many lively dinnertime stories.

Nell was a nurturing mother to her daughter, Susan. Along with her husband Bill, the family of three took many trips far and wide in the world as she taught the lessons of how to be independent while respecting the needs of others.

Nell was born in Battle Creek, Michigan, to Katherine Luise Striffler Buchanan and Earl McKinley Buchanan on Feb. 5, 1930. The family moved to San Diego in 1943 where Nell attended Hoover High School and graduated from San Diego State University.

Nell met her husband, William (Bill) Albert Lester while they both worked at the aerospace firm Convair in San Diego. They married in 1954 and made their home Del Mar, CA. In 1962 they moved with their 4-year-old daughter to Granite Bay, CA, outside Roseville. They had 39 wonderful years of marriage until Bill’s death in 1993.

Widowed at 63 years old, Nell learned to play golf and began to practice yoga. She continued to travel with her daughter and other friends. Her most memorable trip was trekking in Nepal at age 68, a mind-expanding experience for all involved.

In 2009, Nell moved from her home in Granite Bay to a home in Eskaton, Grass Valley, where she took great pleasure in watching the bluebirds nesting in her backyard. Not one to sit around, Nell volunteered for shifts as a thrift shop and Narrow Gauge Railroad attendant, joined the Eskaton book club, as well as a play reading group and the Sparrow walkers. She never stopped playing bridge.

Nell is survived by her daughter, Susan Lester (Nevada City), many nieces, nephews, cousins, and several close friends who are like family (Lisa, Sean, Jan, Ginny, SueB).

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents and two older brothers, Charles Frederick Buchanan and James Striffler Buchanan.

Nell loved birds, PBS and cats. She will be missed by many, many people, most of all her daughter, Susan (aka, Susie to her). A celebration of life will take place at a date to be announced.

Contributions may be made in her name to Hospice of the Foothills or any charity of the donor’s choice.