Lois Catherine Buchanan

This post first appeared on the original version of the site. 

I’ve resurrected it here because it still has teeth! 

Originally published April 12, 2017. 

Last updated July 11, 2025, with new sources + AI strategies.

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Meet Lois Catherine Buchanan

On a warm August day in 1914, Lois Catherine Buchanan made her debut in the sleepy town of Ridgeway, Illinois. She was the daughter of Maurice Buchanan, a dedicated Methodist minister, and Pearl Wilton, his steadfast wife. Records from Indiana death certificates and Social Security claims confirm her birthdate and lineage.

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A Preacher’s Daughter

By the time the 1920 census was taken, Lois was five years old, living with her family on Lafayette Street in Winslow, Pike County, Indiana. Her father, Maurice, now 36, served as a preacher—a role that shaped much of Lois’s early life. The household was bustling with energy: her mother Pearl, age 29, her older sister Versa, and her twin brothers, Charles and Carlin.

A decade later, the Buchanans relocated to Loogootee, Martin County, Indiana. Maurice had become a Methodist Pastor, and Lois—now 15—shared the parsonage with her parents and brothers. The family’s roots traced back to Illinois and Missouri, yet their lives were shaped by itinerant ministry and the steady rhythm of church and community life.

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A Love Story in the Heart of Indianapolis

In the fall of 1935, Reverend Buchanan and Pearl joyfully announced their daughter’s engagement to Robert Daniel Boone, son of Omer and Mrs. Boone. The wedding was held on October 4 at Roberts Park M.E. Church, likely officiated by her father.

The newlyweds settled into married life in Indianapolis. By 1936, they lived at 556 N. Gray Street, where Robert worked as a serviceman for the Royal Typewriter Company.

In 1940, the couple had moved to a modest home on East 22nd Street, which they shared with Robert’s younger cousin and a lodger. Lois, though not employed outside the house, was clearly at the heart of this small, interconnected household.

Their first child, Michael Daniel Boone, was born just before midnight on August 11, 1940, at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. Lois was listed as a housewife—devoted to caring for her new son, while Robert continued his work in sales with Royal Typewriter.

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Wartime and the Postwar Years

Robert registered for the World War II draft not long after, still residing with Lois at 715 E. 22nd Street.

As the 1950 census rolled around, the Boone family had grown to include daughter Marilyn, and they were living at 2730 East 62nd Street. Lois, then 35, was raising her family full-time, and she was joined in the household by her sister, Versa Benedict.

By 1960, Robert had risen to the position of General Manager at Scholer & Waters, and the couple remained in their 62nd Street home. Their lives, though modest, were rich in family ties and community presence.

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A New Chapter

After more than four decades of marriage, Lois and Robert parted ways. In 1978, at age 63, Lois married James Steven Kiraly, a retired gentleman from Ohio. The two were married in Marion County, Indiana. Lois was a secretary then and had moved to Riverfront Avenue, while James resided on North Pennsylvania Street. Both were Protestant, and their union marked a gentle new beginning in their golden years.

Later records show Lois settling at James’s address, where she remained well into the 1990s. By 1979, she had made a Social Security claim under her new name—Lois C. Kiraly.

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Final Years

Lois passed away in the early hours of February 15, 2007, at Clearwater Commons in Indianapolis, having lived a remarkable 92 years.

Her son, Mike Boone, served as the informant on her death certificate, which noted dementia and coronary artery disease as contributing causes. She was laid to rest at Crown Hill Cemetery beside her second husband, James Kiraly.

Though much of Lois’s life was shaped by the quiet rhythms of family, faith, and homemaking, it’s clear she lived through extraordinary times—from the tail end of WWI through the dawn of the 21st century. Her life bridged eras and witnessed profound change, yet her role as daughter, wife, mother, and sister remained constant.

If you have stories, photographs, or memories of Lois you’d be willing to share, I’d love to hear them. I’ll update this post as I uncover more pieces of her journey.

Until next time,
~ Kris