Marcella Gaile Gress Buckland, 76, of Bixby, Oklahoma passed away with her family by her side on Friday, May 22, 2026, at her home.

She was born on May 30, 1949, in Stockton, California to George Washington Gress and Evelyn Naomi (Hart) Gress.

In 1957, while living in Stockton, CA, Marcella’s family was contacted by a sister going door to door. When her parents decided to relocate to French Camp, CA, the sisters there arranged for a brother to come to study with the family. Marcella was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses on June 27, 1959. She graduated from Manteca Union High School in 1967. She served many years as a faithful witness. She enjoyed going door to door on the weekends and even pioneered a few times. Marcella was always faithful in her preaching work for Jehovah in proclaiming the good news about the Kingdom.

On a trip to Oklahoma to visit her cousin in 1971 she met her future husband Gregory James Buckland. By the time she returned from Oklahoma to California she was engaged. They were married on April 8, 1972 at the Kingdom Hall in Manteca, California. While living in French Camp, California they had three children before moving back to Oklahoma in 1979.

Marcella was an avid football fan, especially of The Dallas Cowboys and if you got in the way of her watching her football game, she might have thrown a pillow at you. Watching football was the only time you would ever see Marcy stomping her feet. She knew all the rules and regulations, the players, and the calls. She never had an issue playing referee from home. Marcy was also an avid fan of the Oakland A’s, watching every game with her daddy George. Vida Blue was her favorite ball player.

In 2019, Marcella moved into her own apartment and insisted that her daughter Anjie take her to the shelter to adopt a cat. She chose the cat who had been there the longest, Smokey. When she lost Smokey, she gained Munchkin and Halo as her constant companions.

Marcella dearly loved and was very proud of all her grandchildren and thoroughly enjoyed all her great-grandchildren. She was looking forward to her new great granddaughter arriving in July. She was known for always sending snacks to her grandsons fire station for all of the firefighters to enjoy.

Marcella was preceded in death by her father; George Washington Gress; stepfather, Donald Leroy Novis; mother Evelyn Naomi Hart Gress Novis; niece Stephanie Diane Gress, great grandson Henry James Buckland, and her kitty Smokey.

Marcella is survived by her three children, Anjeanette Callahan and husband, John of Bixby, Oklahoma; Lance Buckland of Stigler, Oklahoma; and Crystal Buckland of Anderson, California; brothers, Wayne and (Carol) Gress, Gary and (Judy) Gress, Richard and (Nancy) Gress; and stepsisters Denise and (Jessie) Archer and Karrie and (Mike) Morrison; ten grandchildren, Garrett and (Sophia) Wendlandt, Morgan Wendlandt, Codie and (Maria) Buckland, Brooklyn Callahan, Mahayla Buckland and (Jermey), George and (Jessica) Buckland, Viviann Buckland, Rylan and (Kendal) Kauffman, Kamlin and (Michael) Chitwood, Kyla Kauffman and (Carlos); 13 great-grandchildren, Eliana Llamas, Rozalynn Buckland, Bailey Buckland, Isabella Mayberry, Rynlee Kauffman, Luke Kauffman, Jacob Daniels, LoniRae Chitwood, Peyton Daniels, Braxton Chitwood, Maverick Chitwood, Cace Nelson, Nora Lopez and many nieces and nephews and a multitude of cousins spread out throughout the United States.

Marcella was loved dearly and will be missed by all of her friends and family.