Joel McKee Buchanan

Joel McKee Buchanan, age 47, of Biloxi, passed away on December 19, 2024.

Joel McKee Buchanan was born on July 15, 1977, in Morton, Mississippi to the late Douglas Keith Buchanan and the late Jerry Hamilton Buchanan. He is survived by his daughter, Abigail Billie Buchanan of Gulfport, Mississippi and his brother, Todd Buchanan, of Tampa, Florida. 

Joel loved to explore and meet new people. His life was filled with friends he met while living in Mississippi, Georgia, Canada, Tennessee, Arizona, South Carolina, and Florida. Although he lived in many places as both a child and adult, he always found his way back to the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Joel graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a business management degree in 2000 and went on to pursue his interests in sales and construction. He was a top-performing sales leader for several pool supply companies before starting his own pool construction business. He took great pride in the fact that many families enjoyed quality time in, and around, the pools he built.

He also loved his country. He served 6 years in the United States Army attaining the rank of Sergeant before he was honorably discharged. He supported veteran causes throughout his life and was quick to share with anyone he knew how lucky he was to be an American.

Joel had many hobbies, but his favorites were boats and trucks. He could tell you anything and everything about trucks! When he wasn’t tinkering on his truck, you could most often find him boating the beautiful Mississippi Gulf Coast waterways. He would always say he felt most alive on the water.

Above everything, Joel loved his only child, Abigail. Many times, over the past years since the birth of Abigail, Joel had an opportunity to move away from the Mississippi coast. He simply wouldn’t leave and shared that his most important job in life was to be a good father. Abigail and Joel certainly enjoyed boating together, but they also had some incredible life experiences skiing the mountains of Colorado, visiting Disney multiple times, traveling to Canada and Florida to visit family, and just hanging out at the sandbar. 

A Celebration of Life for Joel will take place on Sunday, January 5th from 1-3pm pm at the Diamondhead Activity Center. 63780 Diamondhead Drive North, Diamondhead, MS.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Biloxi is serving the family.

An online obituary may be found, and memories shared at www.RiemannFamily.com/obituaries/joel-buchanan