Dorothy "Dot" Buckelew

April 5, 1929 - June 18, 2018

Dot Buckelew has passed into eternity. Dot was one of the founders of BOTMA.

Dot Buckelew's Obituary

Dorothy (Dot) M. (Goodwin) Buckelew, 89, of Milltown, NJ peacefully went to be with the Lord surrounded by her family on Monday, June 18, 2018. She was born in Shamokin, PA and had been a resident of Milltown for 77 years.

Dorothy was predeceased by her husband of 62 years, Harold Buckelew, a brother, Charles Goodwin; and a sister, Althea Davis. Dorothy leaves behind to cherish her memory five daughters, Jean Buckelew of Somerset NJ, Patricia Buckelew of Wilkes Barre PA, Sandra Espinal of Bound Brook NJ, Kathleen LaBarre of Saylorsburg PA, Mary Mercado of Milltown NJ and a sister, Nancy Butch of North Brunswick NJ. Dorothy had 20 beloved grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and many other family members and dear friends.

Dorothy was a stay at home Mom dedicated to raising her five daughters. Dorothy was a member of the Milltown Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary, Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church, Milltown Senior Citizen Club/Choir, American Legion Joyce Kilmer Post 25, Bluegrass and Old Time Music Association of NJ (one of the 1978 founders).

Dorothy treasured time spent with her family and loved to laugh and make others laugh.

"Fear not for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand".

Cremation was private; a funeral mass will be held Saturday, July 7th, 10 am at Our Lady of Lourdes R.C. Church, 233 North Main Street, Milltown, NJ. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Boylan Funeral Home, 188 Easton Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ.

Remembering those who passed this way before us

Way back in 1978 nine people with similar tastes in music got together and formed an organization to advance the music they loved. They not only organized regular get togethers but they pushed for local radio stations to play this music. They were ambassadors for the genre. That was the beginning of The Bluegrass And Old Time Music Association of New Jersey or BOTMA as we lovingly call it. To this day a group of hardy volunteers get together every third Sunday each month to put on a stage show and/or a jam.

Back in 1978 Steve Hammond, Bill and Bev Hoffman, George and Joyce Burrows, Harold and Dot Buckelew, and Wayne and Dolly Farmer founded BOTMA. Of those nine founding members only two are still among us. Wayne and Dolly Farmer live in Pennsylvania now. The rest of the organization’s founders have passed. Dot Buckelew passed away in June. You can see their pictures by clicking the History button on the BOTMA webpage.

As we enjoy this ongoing piece of our community we need to remember those nine people and the many others that have passed through this fine organization. If you’re reading this chances are that you share the one thing that brought them all together back in 1978. The love for the music.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of them for what they did for me and for all of us. They expanded my horizons and gave me a place that I can always go and feel at home.

Rest in Peace Dot. Thank you for doing all you have done.

Mike Edgerton
July 6, 2018