Mayor Mary Ann Buckles Found Dead in Her Home

Mayor Mary Ann Buckles was discovered dead in her home Monday when police went to check on her after receiving calls from City Hall employees anxious that she had not arrived for work, city officials announced.

Buckles, 59, apparently died of natural causes, officials said.

Her death came as a shock to city workers, who repeatedly left telephone and pager messages for her Monday morning, city spokeswoman Nancy Blaine said. When Buckles did not respond, they called police.

“We were concerned because she’s always been a true professional, and we weren’t able to get hold of her on Monday morning,” she said.

Blaine said Buckles will be remembered for her strong support of the city’s Police Department.

“She was like Barbara Stanwyck,” Blaine said, referring to the glamorous actress famous for her movie roles from the 1920s to the 1960s. “She was salty and wry and tremendously popular.”

Buckles was selected mayor by her City Council colleagues in March and was serving her second four-year term as councilwoman.

She is survived by a son, Sammy Buckles of Sacramento, and her mother and stepfather, Ann and Cecil Sparks of South Gate.

Funeral services are scheduled for Friday at 11 a.m. at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2626 Liberty Blvd. in South Gate.

The council will meet July 14 to elect a new mayor and discuss how to fill Buckles’ seat on the council, Blaine said. In the interim, Vice Mayor Henry Gonzalez will act as mayor.