Barbara Adrienne Stuart

Barbara Adrienne Stuart was born in Phoenix, Arizona on August 1, 1933 to Wilfred and Wyllo (Billie) LeFevre. As a small child, her parents divorced, and her mother married Henry Greer. Although her birth father remained in her life, she considered the man who raised her to be her dad. Henry and Billie had a son, Robert, 7 years younger than Barbara and very dear to her.

Barbara Greer grew up on a grade-A dairy farm, bringing the milk in for bottling and collecting chicken eggs. She attended a small primary school along Route 66, where around 50 farm kids went for grades 1-8. With the encouragement of her math teacher, Mr. Maxwell, and the loving sacrifice of her mom, Barbara left her small schoolhouse to live with her grandparents for the opportunity of a high school education in the city. The change suited her well, and she graduated Valedictorian from Phoenix Union High School in 1951, with a scrapbook filled with all the gems of a charmed life. She continued her education at Arizona State University in Tempe, where she was active in the Chi Omega sorority, crowned Homecoming Queen, served as a Mortar Board honorary, and graduated co-Valedictorian in foreign language.

Barbara met the love of her life, Robert Stuart, in southern Oregon when she was home from college. Her parents had moved to a small farm in Shady Cove, and Robert had recently returned from the Korean War. They began courting the following year, and were married in Medford on August 13, 1955.

Bob and Barbara had two daughters, Sandra and Sharon, to whom Barbara was a wonderful and devoted mother. She supported and encouraged them in their activities and academics, instilling in her girls the importance of doing well in school, and offering admiration for their accomplishments. She spent countless hours as a timekeeper for swim team, served as Campfire Girl leader, helped the girls in foreign exchange programs, took them to dance, skating, and art lessons, sewed clothes for them, taught them to sew, and helped make all the crafty projects happen. The family enjoyed the outdoors together, each in their own way. As an avid reader, fishing for her often meant sitting in the sun on the riverbank with a good book, watching her husband cast now and then. She was a trooper on the ski slopes, skiing in blustery weather and feeling nervous much of the time, but she felt the joy of being with family and friends was always worth it.

Bob and Barbara had many close friends, and together they shared special events, ski trips, beach weekends and cabin visits. Barbara’s bridge club of almost 60 years was a cornerstone in her life, and these ladies carried each other through thick and thin, with plenty of laughter in between. Barbara was quite an organizer. She kept family life running smoothly and ran two businesses from home. She organized activities, events and family trips, and recorded them in albums filled with cards, brochures, programs, ticket stubs, and photos – memories so treasured today.

Barbara was a wonderful cook and her family was blessed with meals presented with care. She loved to entertain; holiday meals were delightful, and she held many fundraisers and celebrations with her friends. Animals were a big part of the family. Bob was known for the unusual “Stuart family critters”, but they all had a special place in Barbara’s heart and it was usually she who had the extra mouths to feed. Barbara loved to dance! She learned ballroom dancing standing on the feet of her granddad, she tapped as a little girl, and she rocked the jitterbug. She loved gardening, getting her hands in the dirt, working in the sun all day, and the reward of lovely flowers and bountiful vegetables. Having grown up in the Arizona desert, Barbara marveled at the beauty and coolness of the coast, forests and rivers. Most treasured was the family cabin on the Rogue River, where she cooked big meals on a wood stove, walked along the river, read by the fire, enjoyed the splendor of Fall colors, and relaxed in the company of loved ones.

Barbara’s service to others was a natural and beautiful expression of her enduring faith, love, and compassion.  She gave generously through service and leadership in P.T.A., Junior Service League (past president), American Association of University Women, Knife & Fork International (30 years), Chapter CG P.E.O. (49 years, past president), and her church. Bob and Barbara were members of the Medford Congregational Church for over fifty years, and Barbara dedicated herself to faith studies, community events, and care ministry.  She cherished her P.E.O. sisterhood and their devotion to supporting women in education.

Barbara was a deeply caring and tender woman, with a warm and loving heart and a sweet smile. She cherished her family and friends. She had a great sense of humor and giggled a lot with her husband’s clever wit woven into daily life. She worked hard and gave selflessly. She accepted life’s challenges and was grateful for all blessings bestowed upon her and her loved ones. Barbara spent her twilight years in Portland living with her daughter Sharon and son-in-law Bob, and with grace and courage she embraced this season of her life.

Barbara is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Robert Stuart, and her brother, Robert Greer. She is survived by her daughters Sandra Johnson (husband Larry), and Sharon Glaeser (husband Bob), and sister-in-law Sharon Greer. She was a wonderful and loving grandmother to Sarah and Lindsey Gilliland, and great-grandmother to Connor, Ayden, Carissa, and Izabel.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 am, on Saturday, May 4, 2019 at the Medford Congregational Church (UCC), 1801 E. Jackson St., Medford. A reception and lunch will follow. Memorial contributions may be sent to Chapter CG P.E.O Sisterhood scholarship fund (Chapter CG Treasurer, 519 Winston Court, Eagle Point, 97524) or to a charity of your choice.

Perl Funeral Home & Siskiyou Memorial Park

2100 Siskiyou Blvd

Medford, OR 97504