OBITUARY of BARBARA JEAN CORBY

Barbara Jean was born October 15, 1917 in Spokane, WA to Dr. John Henry and May Gorham Brodrecht. Her mother, a registered nurse, died from the Spanish Influenza when Barbara was only an infant. Her father's sister moved from Canada to take care of Barbara and her two older sisters. Their father died while the three were still young. Barbara graduated from North Central High, class of 1935, and after completing a Secretarial School, she followed her sisters to the University of Idaho and Gamma Phi Beta. According to her eldest nephew, Brody Conklin, the sisters were a "trio of heartbreakers", throughout their high school and college years. Barbara earned a degree in English and Teaching, but turned down her first teaching offer because it included coaching boys' basketball!

Barbara worked as a dental assistant for a year, before meeting and marrying Robert Boyd in 1941. They moved to Hollywood, CA for a short while, but he was called to war and died in action in 1945. They had no children from this marriage. Barbara worked for the Spokesman Review for five years and met her second husband there, 'Cooper'; they were married in 1947, moved to Pasco, WA, where they raised four children and began a dry cleaning business, the Star Cleaners. During the 50's and 60's the Cooper family was involved in the Episcopal Church of our Savior. Barbara really enjoyed (like many of us) the Reverend Lester Kinsolving, his excellent sermons, and his home visits. She was also a past-member of the Elks Club, Eastern Star, and the Eagles. She and Cooper divorced after the children were grown. After that, Barbara worked at Grigg's Department Store for five years. She was married to John Corby in 1977; they enjoyed square dancing and travelled around the USA and Canada with the Roadrunners dance club until John's health failed. John passed on in 1997. He had seven children from a previous marriage.

Barbara looked forward to family get-togethers for the holidays, as well as birthday parties for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Barbara enjoyed lunches at the Pasco Senior Center and especially loved going to luncheons with her neighborhood "Tuesday Club" which she and her neighbor, Noma Beers, helped form; and a special thank you to Nita Rettinghouse for always providing the ride and making the arrangements!

Barbara's youngest son Ronald passed on in an automobile accident in 1994, leaving one daughter, Lindsey. Lindsey (Chad) went on to give Barbara a great-grandson, Caiden, and her first great-granddaughter, Kayla. In 2004, Barbara lost her only daughter Carol to cancer. Carol was survived by her three daughters, Tasha, twins Amy and Amber (Nathan). In November of 2010, Barbara lost her eldest son, Gary to cancer. Gary was survived by: his wife, Susan; daughter Traci (David) and their four sons, Matthew, Grant, Blake, Layne; son Ryan (Jen) and their children, Tyler and Peyton; and their youngest son Michael (Danialle). Her last surviving son Richard (Carmella) has four children: Ben (Carolyn), his children Ezra and Seskiya; Sho, her sons Jaden and Taylor; Springsong, and Lev.

In early November 2010, Richard and his wife Carmella of Republic, WA came to Pasco to take care of their mother. They had a wonderful holiday season together, visiting family in Republic, Yakima, and Idaho. While visiting Carmella's family in California in February 2011, Barbara was back on the dance floor for a Valentine Day's dance, where seniors 90 years and older were honored. A beautiful photo of her from that event is a wonderful keepsake for the family, being her last dance!

Barbara moved to Republic in the summer of 2011, with Richard, Carmella, and their dog Jamokey. The transition went very smoothly, waking up to the view of the lake, the surrounding mountains, and the local deer herd walking by her window. Lawrence Welk Hour always seemed to keep a foot tapping and an ear-to-ear grin on Barbara's face throughout the show. During her last holiday season she was flooded with visits, telephone calls, and cards with photos, from her many grandchildren and family. These meant a lot to her. Even in her last weeks, when asked how she was feeling, she always replied "Just Fine!" The Hospice staff so admired her for being easy-going, never complaining, and always greeting them with a big smile and an amazing amount of courage. We will always admire her quiet strength, her simple style, clever sense of humor, and her generosity, compassion and concern for others.

On the eve of Spring, March 19, 2012, Barbara died from cancer, at the age of 94. She was preceded in death by her parents, her aunt, two sisters, two husbands, and three children. She is survived by one son, eleven grandchildren, and twelve great-grandchildren and seven nieces and nephews and their families: Brody (Ann), Judy, Rick (Toni), Peggy, Kathy (John), Chris (Arch), and Mike (Karrie).

The family wishes to thank Hospice of Spokane and Bergh's Funeral Home. The immediate family is observing a 49-day prayer period for Barbara. A private family memorial will be held at a later date.