Barbara Coley
Barbara Coley

Obituary of Barbara Rae Coley

Click on link below to watch video tribute: http://videos.lifetributes.com/?id=5087 Barbara was born on February 22, 1927 in Spokane Washington. Shortly after that her parents Charlotte and Dr. Dean Osborn began to search for a place to raise their daughter and for dean to open his own obstetrician practice. They spent a year in Southern California before hearing about a small town, Klamath Falls Oregon that was in need of an OB. They drove north to this town and knew immediately that this was the place they wanted to live and raise their family. They settled in and before they knew it they had found the perfect home on Lawrence Street. Theirs was the last home on the street and their back yard was the Hot Springs Hills. Barbara attended Roosevelt Elementary. She played with her neighborhood friends, Shirley and Jane Mason and Ella Tatlow. Little did she know that these were friendships that would span and continue to the next generations of their families. Life was good. Then she was stricken by polio. After a year at home, she recovered and was able to return to school. Luckily, she only had mild lingering effects as the result of this illness. Barbara’s life was always filled with animals. Billy Bumpkins was her pet goat. Billy would come into the house and go up the stairs to Barbara's bedroom at naptime. A game that pleased Barbara and her father but horrified her mother to no end. You see, Billy wasn’t really housebroken. Once she found a coyote pup, and of course brought him home. He was not well liked by the other dogs in the neighborhood so for his own safety he was released in the Hot Springs Hills after he was old enough to successfully fend for himself. Then there was Ladybug. A beautiful cocker spaniel that stole the heart of the entire family. She was that once in a lifetime dog. The Lawrence Street home was the center of her life. The holidays were spent with Roenickes, Hiltons, Masons, and other friends. During the war years they opened their home to the soldiers and flyers stationed at Kingsley Field. Charlotte kept a guest book and everyone would sign at those special dinners. Chris and Sue were fascinated with their Mother’s stories about the parties and the special guests from those long ago parties. Barbara always remembered the boys who snuck into Dean’s den and stole cigars from his humidor and were caught smoking in the back yard. That was scandalous in 1943. They were chastised by the commander and removed from the guest list. Barbara’s voice was always sad when she talked of the boys who did not return from the war. It was more than the soldiers who were part of the world’s greatest generation. Barbara got her greatest wish when her parents surprised her with Sugar and Shadow, her beloved horses. Sugar was a Palomino and Shadow a black. She spent many hours riding in the Hot springs with her Mother or life long friend and partner in crime, Ella Tatlow. Barbara and Ella being healthy, spirited young women would ride to the fairgrounds to flirt with the cowboys. It was romantic, exciting, and almost more than her Mother could bear. Barb loved her cowboys. Barb and Ella were able to wrangle a gig as assistants to Devere and Helen Helfrich, who were the top rodeo photographers of the time. Those two would do almost anything to meet the cowboys! Barbara attended Annie Wright Seminary and graduated in 1945. While there she developed friendships that would last her lifetime. The ‘Girls’ would get together several times a year for lunch and Barb always looked forward to those outings, especially when they would visit Lakewold. She had very fond memories of that place and her friends. She was totally surprised when on her 75 Th birthday her daughter Sue and the Girls honored her with a surprise birthday party and luncheon at her son’s house. Barbara attended Whitman College and graduated from Southern Oregon College. She spent several years teaching in Yreka, California in a two-room schoolhouse. She was even able to bring her beloved Sugar and Shadow with her. Barbara got an itch to see the world and went to work for the government in Special Services. She managed a recreation club and worked as social director for the troops in Landstuhl, Germany. Being one of three American girls in town, there was no shortage of dates. But she wanted the one young soldier who wanted nothing to do with her. Well, you all know the rest of the story; she married that young soldier from Mississippi, Ray Coley. After a brief courtship they married and had two children, Susan and Christopher while stationed in Germany. In between babies they toured Europe visiting, Holland, Spain, and France. They returned stateside and eventually ended up in Tacoma, as Ray was posted to Fort Lewis in 1958. This was the closest post to her beloved Lawrence Street home in Klamath Falls. Barbara never returned to teaching. Instead she involved herself in scouting as a Brownie troop leader and a day camp director. After Chris and Sue were grown she worked as a maid at the Doric Hotel and for Pierce County in the mailroom. As her children grew Barbara shared stories of her youth. There was much more to this woman than what met the eye. She had dinner with Richard Nixon. Mom was dating a prominent California rancher at the time. They flew to Sacramento and picked up Richard and Pat (who were dating at that time) at flew up to Rocky Point for dinner. She got caught sitting on Roy Rogers’ lap by Dale Evans in a beer joint and she rode up an elevator with Robert Mitchum. She also maintained a long time friendship with John Morley, a war correspondent who was a friend of her parents. Barbara met Sam at the Piggily Wiggly. He worked there. One day he walked her home, carrying her groceries for her and that was the beginning of a thirty-year love affair. It was an on again off again relationship. Sam was a wandering spirit, who could not stay in one place. Her feelings for him never wavered. She knew he would always return to her and he did. She was wise enough to know that by giving him his freedom, she ensured his return. Sam was her cowboy love. Barbara loved her children. She shared with her son Chris and Grandson Cameron her love of the movies. They had many movie dates together and when she was no longer able to go to the movies, they brought the movies to her. She never did figure out how to use her DVD player on her own. Barb was electronically challenged. With her granddaughter she shared her love of animals. Jacqui found a small kitten in the street one day and knew she had to save it. When she was not allowed to keep it, she knew just who to call. She called Grandma. Grandma being grandma opened her home to this small orphan who they called Wally but soon changed her name to Molly. Even Grandmas are not right all the time. Daughter Sue has spent the last several years as chief cook and bottle washer and taxi driver for Barbara. This allowed Barbara to retire from the kitchen and have the pleasure of her own private chef. But Barbara and Sue also liked to travel together. They would visit Klamath Falls regularly and always enjoyed their trips. They made several trips to Reno would drive the back roads of Nevada looking for wild horses. They both always enjoyed the trip as much as the destination and were game to travel a road they hadn’t been on. They made several trips to Victoria on the Princess Marguerite and Barbara would tell stories of her trip from Europe aboard ship and the majesty of entering New York Harbor. Their last trips together were to Klamath Falls. One to share in the celebration of the fiftieth wedding anniversary of her childhood friend Shirley Mason Hatfield and her husband David. Her final trip was last September to say goodbye to Shirley. Last but not least Barbara loved Baby, her kitty, rescued from the pound. Barbara was cat less for almost a year after the death of Bunny. She had vowed no more animals. She knew her years were running out and she did not want to trouble anyone with her pet. But this was a promise she could not keep. She was lonely and missed the companionship of a cat. Off Sue and she went to the humane society. They did not make it through the door. A man got out of the car and in his arms was Baby. He had rescued her several months earlier from the pound but discovered he had cat allergies and could not keep her. She was spayed, declawed, and perfect. Part Siamese, big round blue eyes and she began to purr the minute Barbara held her in her arms. It was love at first sight, for both of them. On September 11, Barbara entered St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tacoma. On Friday 15, the doctors told her there was nothing they could do. On Monday Sept. 18 she was moved to Franciscan Hospice Center. Every day, the first question she would ask her daughter is “how is my cat? Have you checked on Baby ?” On Tuesday morning Sept. 19, Baby joined Barbara at the hospice center. The round the presence of Sue and Chris made it possible for baby to join her mama. Baby quickly discovered her mama in the bed and promptly jumped up showering her with kitty kisses and purring content. Barbara was able to have her time with Baby and know that she was safe and well. Baby never left Barbara’s bed except to offer support to Sue and Chris. Barbara passed away Thursday September 21 at 8:00 AM with Baby and her son Chris at her side. Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Thurs., Sept. 28 at Lakeview Congregational Chapel, 4606 108th St. SW. Arrangements by Edwards Memorial Center 253-566-1008
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