Scott Buckley, M.D.
August 7, 1964 ~ July 2, 2024
Dr. Joseph Scott Buckley, known fondly as Scott, passed away peacefully in his home in Fishers, Indiana, on July 2nd, 2024. Born on August 7th, 1964, in Greentown, Indiana, to Nancy and Joseph Buckley, Scott lived a life full of family, laughter, and a dedication to serving those around him.
Scott is survived by his loving wife, Sherry K. Buckley, whom he married on December 23, 1988, and their three children: Erin [Daniel] Murphy, Alexander Buckley, and Shelby Buckley. Scott has two, soon to be three, beloved grandchildren, Owen and Amelia Murphy. He is also survived by his mother Nancy Buckley, three sisters, Michelle [Bob] Stockton, Amber [Curtis] Perkins, Tara Mercer, his brother, Jordan [Layna] Buckley, and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his father Joseph Buckley.
A proud Indiana native, Scott's educational journey began at Eastern High School, where he was well-known and loved by the community. He was a class president and an active member of the golf and football teams. Scott often reflected on their class pranks, vintage cars, and strong friendships that lasted for decades to come.
His academic pursuits led him to Purdue University, where he graduated in 1986. Scott continued his education at the Indiana University School of Medicine, earning his medical degree in 1990. He completed his Internal Medicine Internship and Residency in 1993 and his Gastroenterology Fellowship in 1995 at the Indiana University Medical Center. Scott’s time in medical school was marked by many long days/nights and dedicated hard work, but also by memorable conferences across the country and ski trips to Aspen with his colleagues who became lifelong friends.
In 1995, Scott joined the esteemed group of physicians at Indianapolis Gastroenterology and Hepatology, where he spent the next 27 years providing excellent medical care to the greater Indianapolis community. As the Medical Director for The Endoscopy Center at St. Francis, he also served on its Board of Managers. He was on the board of the Indianapolis Gastroenterology Research Foundation and a member of the Franciscan St. Francis Health Credentials Committee. His dedication to medical education earned him the prestigious Edward N. Micon, M.D. Teaching Award in 2007. He was repeatedly recognized as an Indiana Top Doctor from 2012 to 2022.
Scott and his beloved wife Sherry Buckley built a beautiful life together, cherishing special moments raising their three children, from the countless gymnastics competitions, golf tournaments and soccer games to going on fun-filled vacations with family and friends. Their bond was a testament to a lifetime of shared love.
A dedicated family man, Scott instilled values of hard work, determination, and a spirit of adventure in his children. Titles such as “soccer dad”, “golf caddie”, and “number-one fan” suited Scott, reflecting his unwavering support for his children to succeed in their own unique ways. Scott always cherished the simple pleasures in life. He could often be found with his children fishing for bluegill or bass on the lake by his home, shooting hoops in the driveway, or gathering berries to later make into grape jelly, a cherished tradition from his childhood. His family likes to remember him in his favorite Mount Pleasant t-shirt, basketball shorts, and his grass-stained lawn mowing shoes, aka “dad shoes”.
Scott balanced his work life with an adventurous and spirited approach to life. He was an avid golfer, often seen at Hillview Country Club with his friends and family, where he won numerous father-daughter and father-son tournament championships. Scott had an appreciation for classic Corvettes and enjoyed many rides with Alex, often in search of the best doughnut they could find. He rarely found a doughnut that didn’t meet his approval. Scott could also often be found road cycling, spending weekends biking the rolling hills outside of his quaint home in Greenwood, Indiana with his daughter Shelby and late dear friend Todd Lemmel.
Scott's adventurous spirit and passion for travel took him and his family to various destinations, from the tropical islands of the Caribbean to the inspiring landscapes of Alaska. He particularly cherished his time in Maui, Hawaii with his family, where he enjoyed snorkeling with sea turtles and hiking into the clouds. Winter holidays were spent teaching his family to ski, enjoying the vast breakfast spreads at the resorts, and skiing the mountain from open to close. In addition to serving his community, Scott extended his passion for healing by traveling to underserved areas in Guatemala with his daughter Erin.
Scott’s presence lit up every room, and his witty sense of humor and positivity left a lasting impact on everyone he met. Scott's selflessness and willingness to put others first were hallmarks of his character. Scott would have wanted each of us to continue living life to the fullest, sharing his joy for life, and to always say yes when offered a donut. His legacy will forever live on through the lives he touched.
Visitation services will be held at O’Riley Branson Funeral Service & Crematory at 6107 S. East St. Indianapolis, IN 46227 on Friday July 12, 2024 from 5:00-8:00 pm and Saturday July 13, 2024 from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm. This will be followed by a Funeral Service at 12:00 pm.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) research foundations https://donate.als.org/ or The Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation https://www.crohnscolitisfoundation.org/.
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Scott will live on inside our hearts. Always a kind word for everyone. He’s touched so many! Sherry, Erin. Shelby and Alex we are sending our love and prayers
I will always treasure my memories of Scott growing up. Seeking advice from Grandpa Buckley how to process the first deer he ever shot ;together they completed the task.
He would go into our nursery and pick up the youngest of his cousins; talking comfortingly to the baby reassuring him awake with his kind and gentle voice.
Small town boy who followed his grand dreams.
The little boy who played for hours at his G&G Buckley’s house with his numerous cousins. I can still hear their laughter. Nick named the “Cisco Kid” by Grandpa B.
Scott, now go rest on that mountain, I know you were greeted by so many when you stepped through Heaven’s door.
My prayers are with Nancy, Sherry, Erin, Alex, Shelby. Michelle, Amber, Tara, and Jordan.
I remember a little boy about 2yrs old (my nephew) walking around the house saying 'I’m going to be a doctor'.
That was Scott.
That little boy, that man was a gift.
Our hearts are heavy with sadness. God bless you and your familys. My prayers are with you all.
I was always so proud to say that Scott was my cousin. To say he was the best of us, is an understatement. Scotty, as I remember him by, was always so kind hearted, had a gentle smile, and a bit of laughter with a mischievous grin. His eyes would sparkle when speaking about his family. I always teased I would be your nurse, but then you chose Gastroenterology, and I chose cardiology. Big mistake on my part. I think we would have had fun working together. May you know you are already missed, and our hearts are missing a piece, but we know you are laughing in Heaven with our most cherished loved ones. Give them all a hug for me.
I had the absolute pleasure of working with Dr Buckley and he was one of the most pleasant men I’ve ever known. He never had a bad day. He was always cheerful, helpful and a wonderful teacher to his staff and patients. I am beyond grateful to have been able to know him. I’m so very sorry for your loss of such an amazing person. May he rest in peace.
I remember the first time I met Dr. Buckley. It was at church at Mt. Pleasant. I thought he seemed familiar so I asked him if he worked at St. Francis. I felt as though I had met him in ED. He answered, 'sorta '. He then reached out to shake my hand and said, 'Buckley, MD.' At that time I reached out my hand and said, 'Gale, RN.' I will always remember how nice, and funny he seemed to be. Who knew just a few years later that I would have the privilege of working side by side with him for the next 14 years. Dr. Buckley was truly a genuine, kind, and funny man! Every day working with him was a new adventure but with the same wonderful, full of life smile. I am honored and blessed to have known him.
God bless you Dr. Buckley, may you rest in peace.
God bless you Sherry and family. May God’s peace be with you. Gale, RN
Lots of beautiful memories
Love Sherry
Jane and Larry Keyler Family has purchased Beautiful in Blue for Scott Buckley, M.D.
Sherry, so sorry for your loss.
So sorry to hear about your loss. I always loved his smiling face at church.
RIP Dr. Buckley, I remember how kind you were to my mother who had dementia, you will be greatly missed . Go with God.
With sincere condolences on the loss of Dr Scott Buckley, a fellow Franciscan.
I’m so sorry to hear about the loss of Dr. Buckley. I worked with him for many years at St. Francis Hospital. Always had a smile on his face, and he was very kind to his patients. He and Dr. Lemel are celebrating their eternal life in heaven!
I’m truly sorry for your family loss. Your Dad and husband was a wonderful man. I enjoyed working with Dr Buckley at CHS. He always made me laugh. He always had a smile on his face. There many times I was in call with him and he would be wearing his Dad shoes peace be with you all
Sincerely, The Chiado Family has purchased Sympathy Garden for Scott Buckley, M.D.
So very sorry for your loss. He was a great doctor best every. He took special care of me for many years. He was great person was great to explain and easy to talk with. I was his patient plus I worked at St. Francis many years I always recommended him.
Chuck & Bonnie Winger & Family has purchased Cherished Dreams for Scott Buckley, M.D.
Love, Sophie has purchased Beautiful in Blue for Scott Buckley, M.D.
So very sad to hear of Scott’s passing. He was an exceptionally nice person and a true professional. I feel fortunate to have known him as an acquaintance and my doctor. Kind, thoughtful, humorous and patient with me as a nervous patient under his care. Condolences to the entire Buckley family. Rest In Peace, Dr. Buckley.
My experience with Dr. Buckley was a physician-patient relationship. He performed my first and subsequent procedures until he could no longer practice with a kindness and good humor that made otherwise somewhat embarrassing situations tolerable. I was sorry to hear of his illness and pray that its eventual progression was as peaceful as possible. Praying for comfort for his family and friends left behind.
So incredibly sorry for your loss. We are heartbroken for you all. We have so many fantastic memories of Scott with soccer. Those were special times for us and we cherish those moments. Sending love, Craig, Michelle and HD
Nancy and I are saddened to read of your loss. I had Scott as a student in my first year teaching at Eastern Elementary. He was a such good boy. I enjoyed reading and “catching up” with his family and impressive accomplishments in life. Our sincere sympathies to you Jordan and the rest of your family.
To Scott’s family, I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers have been and will continue to be with you. My heart has been heavy every single day since learning of his passing. We met in sixth grade, and had a lot of fun over the next several years. I remember one day when we were messing around at school and he noticed a large, thick pad in the gym that was used for gymnastics. He thought it would be fun to jump off the upper level of the gym and land on that pad. So, we went up to the second level, and Scott jumped first. Unfortunately, it wasn’t one large pad, but two that were pushed together. He landed right between them, on his backside, and on the gym floor! He was sore for days after that one. The rest of us saw that and said, 'no thanks, we’ll use the stairs.'
The last time I talked to him was the summer of 1986. We were stuck in a traffic jam on I-465. I heard someone calling my name, I looked over and it was Scott. I was in veterinary medical school at Purdue and he was getting ready to start med school. We had a great conversation. I will always cherish my memories of him.
Only one life, twill soon be passed,
Only what’s done for Christ will last,
And when I’m dying how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life was burned out for Thee.
C T. Studd
Scott, I’ll love ya forever.
Scott
Buckley Family,
We are sorry for the loss of Scott. We know he was a tremendous light in our community & through his work, helped many facing GI issues.
We are sending our healing thoughts your way.
Tatijana Narwold
Executive Director
Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Indiana Chapter