Buck was our next door neighbour when we arrived in Virginia Beach from England in 1978. My husband Tim, a naval officer, was posted to the Norfolk naval base for two years. One of the great joys of that period in our lives was the wonderful friendship of Buck, and it has been a strong and lasting memory, not only for us but also for our two boys. I always felt a smile coming on when I heard her cheery voice calling out “hi, let’s go and have some fun” – and no matter what we did or where we went, it was fun. We are so glad that we visited her at Ferebee Drive last January and inspite of her physical difficulties she gave us a marvellous welcome. Knowing Buck was a real privilege for our family and we send our sympathy to all of hers.

Georgie was such a great help to me in my
endeavors to learn more about my father's
family. I started corresponding with her
when I found one of her "Christmas Messages"
that she had sent to my mother (around 1999).
She shared a wealth of information that I
never could have gotten otherwise, and she
also added me to her Christmas message list.

Her obituary describes a truly remarkable
person and a beautiful life well lived.

John Harris-Greensboro NC

What a long and glorious life, did Buck live. She was unique and she was a dear, dear lover of nature and all God's creatures.
Buck's influence on my life as a Brownie, Junior, and Scout -1946-1952 (when our family moved to Richmond from Norfolk) was powerful. As a CIT and then counselor at Camp Matoaka (1952-60), she was a guide and friend...from nature walks to throwing pots and decorating ceramics. It was a distinct honor and pleasure to have served as unit leader of the "Outpost" at Camp Matoaka (where they built 2 adirondack shelters and a primitive cooking shelter on the highest point of the land which later became an island in the new lake). During that time, we re-named the unit "The Buckatan Outpost". We made a primitive sign which I rescued many years later by rowing across the then very small spot between the new island and the tiny remnant of what had been the "Outpost". After my marriage and move to Minnesota, my husband and I visited her once at the Va Beach residence of her sister and husband. The twinkle in her eye and the infectious laughter were still there!
What a creative and artistic soul she was. Her annual Christmas notes have been treasured throughout the years and will be sorely missed.

Mary LOU Morris Wolsey, St. Paul, Minnesota -grandmother of a South St. Paul girl scout and mother of her troop # 1217 leader in the Girl Scout Council of the Saint Croix Valley.

Buck: RIP!! You were an inspiration to us all. Our family were campers and counselors at Camp Matoaka in the 1960's and 1970's. THANKS for helping to "pave the way" for OUR 4 generations of Girl Scouts in the family (while Grandma Myrtle Zimmerman was still alive). My/our mom, Grace Zimmerman VanDerveer, followed in Buck's footsteps taking over many of her "camp," Council duties after Buck retired. And, following in my own mom's footsteps, I spent MANY memorable summers at Camp Matoaka on Core Staff and as a program director which I was later able to "transfer" to Girl Scouting in Northern Virginia (Camp Crowell/"Ashgrove Adventure" in Oakton) with our three daughters and three sons who are all Eagle Scouts (ALTHOUGH they got their BEST "training" at GIRL Scout day camp!!) Our three girls ALL stayed in Girl Scouting through senior high school BECAUSE of their CAMP experiences (a heritage attributed to ALL of the wonderful GIRL Scouters who have gone before us including Buck)!! And, although I am now a "grandma," as well, with four grandsons (!), I look forward to the days when we have some granddaughters in order to become more active again in Girl Scouts (having had to spend so many years juggling back and forth between both the Girl Scout and Boy Scout programs with our own kids). Buck, God Bless, Love you, Lindy VanDerveer Rackiewicz (and friends from our Tidewater G.S. troops and campers in the 1960's)

Buck Harris = Camp Matoaka! My mother, Helen Krischer, was the camp nurse at Matoaka from around 1954-1966. My sister, Jeanne, and I were fortunate enough to be able to accompany mom to camp when we were little and then return as campers when we were old enough. Jeanne and I are now in our 50's: she lives in Florida and I am still in Norfolk. We still talk about Camp Matoaka and Buck, and we sometimes even sing the songs we sang while sitting on the logs outside the dining hall or on the dam watching the stars next to a campfire. Buck was such an inspiration to me as a teenager, and I learned so much from her during all those years. My deepest sympathy to the Harrell and Spry families, as Girl Scouting has truly lost one great "camper." We love you, Buck.

What a brave trooper was Buck! I was a camper back in the 50s
at Matoaka (1946-51) and then a CIT and counselor (1952-62).
I taught swimming, was leader of the OUTPOST camp after doing work with the Chicadees and the Tawis earlier. I can remember Buck's wonderful laugh. She had vision and stick-to-it-iveness (witness that she almost reached her 99th birthday).
She kept me on her Christmas note list and I cherished those thoughts each December. I was pleased to have visited her once after my marriage and move to Minnesota. She and her sister and family had a lovely home in VIrginia Beach. Instead of "condolences" I believe I am sending PRAISE and THANKSGIVING for a long and fruitful life, well-lived.

Words cannot describe what a remarkable person Buck was. Her influence on me and thousands of other Scouts was profound. My deepest sympathy goes out to the Spry and Harrell families, the extended Matoaka family, and the larger Scouting family.

Buck, you are loved and will be missed. There will not be another like you!

"Oh where is Buck? The tents have fallen down again. Oh where is Buck? The pump has broken down again? OH!BUCK!!" How I remember that day many summers ago when as a teen-age Senior Service Scout serving as a "Junior Counselor" at Camp Apasus waiting at the home of one of the Adult Couselor's home in the Pinewell Section of Ocean View for Buck to arrive we sat and "composed" a ditty of which words I remember are the words I opt'd to start this condolence with we all burst into song singing loudly when Buck finally arrived for the meeting. Another memory is her reaction that day at City Park in Norfolk when she saw "Mike" Warfield (Troop #17) and me (Troop#5) coming across the field carrying a "sofa" that was one of the props for the drama NEVER TOO YOUNG on top of our heads as we were helping to set up the drama Fran Martin (noted writer of stories for Children) had written especially to be performed for us Girl Scouts during the Girl Scout Rally. ("Mike" later became Doctor Melissa Warfield @ Kings Daughter's Hospital and I became a cab driver, foster parent, worked the PBX @ dePaul Hospital, etc).A third memory was picking apples to save the crop for some farmer out in the county during WWII and what the farmer paid the group of scouts was used for painting the Girl Scout Headquarters (in the Arcade, in Norfolk) Buck thanks for all the happy memories I have of my years as a Girl Scout in Norfolk, Virginia.
Will always remember you with love.
"Dottie Mae" Reams

Dot Reams Hall-Cape Colony, Edenton, NC (primary home)& White Tail Resort(site 108),Ivor, Virginia (second home)