Memorial service planned July 9th for Barbara E. Boe, 1944-2015

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Barbara Ellen Boe, who died last weekend at 71, will be remembered at a service in West Seattle on July 9th. Here’s the remembrance her family is sharing with the community today:

Barbara Ellen Boe was born to Clayton Royal Lape and Ellen Ward on January 2, 1944, in Big Timber, Montana. Barbara spent part of her early childhood with her beloved grandparents, Robert (Bud) Ward and Anita (Brannin) Ward Hoyem up the Sweet Grass Canyon at the Ward & Parker Sawmill and ranch. Barbara’s father served in the US Navy during the Second World War, and her mother worked in Helena, Montana. Barbara formed a deep attachment to her grandparents and south central Montana.

Following several years in the Big Timber area after the war, the family moved to Santa Barbara, California. Barbara went through the Santa Barbara school system until the latter part of high school. She returned to Big Timber, Montana to stay with and help her grandmother. Barbara graduated from Sweet Grass County High School and attended the University of Montana at Missoula for a short time.

Barbara returned to Big Timber and was later married to LeRoy Schilling. They had one daughter, JoAnna.

Barbara married John Christopher (Chris) Boe on May 31, 1981 at the Big Timber Lutheran Church. The couple moved to Billings, Montana and resided there for nine years. Barbara worked for then Eastern Montana College in the library and also with the Continuing Education Department. While in Billings, Barbara and Chris were blessed with two daughters, Elizabeth Ellen and Kristina Anita (Nina).

In 1989 the family moved to Seattle. Barbara was employed as a property manager until her retirement in September of 2010. Following her retirement, Barbara maintained her lifelong love of reading, staying up on current events locally, nationally, and internationally, attending church, and being involved with her family and grandchildren.

Barbara passed away on Saturday, June 27, 2015, from acute myeloid leukemia. She is survived by her husband Chris, daughters JoAnna (Stacey), Elizabeth, and Nina, and grandsons Benjamin and Cameron.

Her funeral will be held on Thursday, July 9, at 2:00 pm at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church (3050 California Avenue SW). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

(WSB publishes West Seattle obituaries by request, free of charge. Please e-mail the text, and a photo if available, to editor@westseattleblog.com)

Pete June 30, 2015 (7:00 pm)

Sad loss for our West Seattle community. The story does not talk about Barbara’s work in helping to build community in our Delridge neighborhoods. I remember working on some projects with her when I was first becoming involved in the neighborhood after moving to Delridge . RIP Barbara.

Catherine June 30, 2015 (7:59 pm)

Oh no- that’s so sad to hear she passed. I was friends with her daughter Elizabeth growing up and Barbara was such a sweet woman. I remember her having a fantastic sense of humor and a welcoming personality. So sorry for the loss, Boe family.

Valerie Lawrence June 30, 2015 (8:28 pm)

Barbara was an angel in my life and I know in the lives of many others. What Pete said is spot on; she was the manager of the apartment complex I lived in when I first moved to West Seattle and she created a genuine community there. She had a wonderful, practical perspective leavened with a fine sense of the absurd. I will sorely miss her. Godspeed, Barbara.

Steve Daschle July 1, 2015 (10:32 am)

Barbara was a passionate voice for community. We will miss her.

Dano Beal July 1, 2015 (11:59 am)

…What a wonderful, humorous, delightful woman! I was lucky enough to have Barbara (… and the whole Boe family) take me under her protective wing when I first moved to Seattle. She guided me in everything from how to navigate the West Seattle Streets, to yummy Asian food haunts, to local politics and the never ending complexities of the school system,. She had an infectious laugh, a remarkable ability to make people feel warm and welcome, and a mischievous sparkle in her eye that brought fun and surprise to all those lucky enough to spend a few moments with her….. We are all so lucky to have had Barbara spend some time with us! I celebrate this wonderful women and all the gifts she has shared with the community!

Melinda J-S July 1, 2015 (3:02 pm)

My deepest sympathy to Barbara’s family. We met at Highland Park Elementary when our youngest, Tim, and her Elizabeth were in kindergarten. May she rest in peace!