OBITUARIO

Susan Jean Barnes

Name: Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home & Cemetery
Address: Seattle, WA

6 agosto, 1953 – 3 enero, 2017

EN EL CUIDADO DE

Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home & Cemetery

"The possession of knowledge does not kill the sense of wonder and mystery. There is always more mystery." - Anais Nin

Susan Jean Barnes passed away January 3, 2017 in Seattle, Washington at the age of 63, following a long illness.

Born August 6,1953, at the Naval Hospital in Oakland, California, Susan was the first child of John Canute and Elaine Barnes. For the first five years, Susan led the nomadic life of a military service family, moving from Oakland to Salt Lake City, to San Diego and back to Salt Lake, while her dad served in the Navy as a flight surgeon, and completed his medical training and residency. In 1958, Susan's brother Keith was born, and in 1959, the family moved to Pullman Washington. Canute took a position with the Washington State University Student Health Services, and Susan settled into the Pullman school system.

From an early age, Susan displayed a profound curiosity about the world around her and a love of learning. Although she made friends readily, Susan was also able to entertain herself. At the age of six, she could be found sprawled on the living room floor, reading "Winnie the Pooh" on her own and laughing out loud.

Family traditions included annual ski trips back to Utah, piling into the family car on a Friday afternoon, and driving from Pullman, stopping for "burger and fries" in Riggins, Idaho, then on through McCall, Cascade, Boise, and Tremonton, Utah, arriving for breakfast in Kaysville, the family homestead. Susan and Keith were excellent skiers, their mom could hold her own, but they all agreed Dad resembled an awkward elephant on the slopes.

Blessed with an outstanding intellect, Susan was also a diligent, hard-working student. This combination led in a high level of achievement throughout her academic career. After graduating Pullman High School in 1971, she entered WSU in the fall, and received a BS in Horticulture in 1976. She held a number of horticultural positions with WSU, the Columbia River Farm in Paterson, Washington, and finally with Fred Meyer in Salem, Oregon. But Susan soon found that although she loved horticulture, "planting trees or selling plants" was not how she wanted to spend the rest of her life.

As an undergraduate, Susan had worked as a Library Aide at the Pullman Public Library, and came to realize librarianship was her true calling. She enrolled at the University of Washington, and received her Masters in Librarianship in 1978.

At graduation, Susan was recruited to participate in a National Library of Medicine postgraduate training program in Bethesda, Maryland. This one-year program provided advanced training in medical librarianship, with an emphasis on computer systems training and the increasing use of online resources in library settings. This experience was central to her future appointments, and provided the first step in an exceptional career.

In 1979, Susan accepted a position with the UCLA Biomedical Library in Los Angeles, California, as a reference librarian, working on health and life sciences information services and teaching classes.

In September of 1980, a life-changing event occurred: the discovery of a massive, benign brain tumor. Although surgery was successful, this proved to be the beginning of a lifelong struggle with 3 recurrent brain tumors, and increasing complications. The uncertainty that her health challenges brought led Susan to focus intently on her professional career, and to appreciate every facet of life.

She moved on to Columbia University, Health Sciences Library, in New York City in 1984, as the head of the reference section, where she continued teaching and publishing, in addition to her managerial duties in support of the Columbia-Presbyterian Medial Center.

After 4 years, Susan was ready for the slower pace of Upstate New York life, a chance to purchase a home and enjoy the countryside. She joined the Albert R. Mann Library at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, as Head of Public Services in 1989, and became Assistant to the Director of Mann Library in 1995. From 1998 to 1999, she served as Interim Director at the Flower-Sprecher Veterinary Library serving the Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine.

Susan had long hoped to eventually return to the Pacific Northwest. In December of 1999, she purchased a home in Seattle, Washington, and began working at the University of Washington in January 2000. Her first position was as Resource Sharing Coordinator for the Pacific Northwest Regional Medical Library, part of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NN/LM) at the UW Health Sciences Library.

Susan possessed a strong moral compass. She was also politically astute and courageous. In 2001, following the attacks of 9/11, while the federal government was considering a mandate forcing librarians to turn over patron information, Susan was considering what outfit to wear for her photo-op arrest - just how close to a stereotypical "Marian the Librarian" the outfit should be for greatest effect. She said she looked forward to the chance to catch up on reading. Along with many of her colleagues, Susan was a woman who would not back down. Fortunately for us all, the government backed down instead.

In 2005, she moved into the position of Assistant Director of the Outreach Evaluation Resource Center, NN/LM, at the Health Sciences Library. Susan's work involved close collaboration with colleagues near and far, and extensive travel, teaching classes and addressing conferences. Susan's poise, wit and knowledge made her a welcome addition to any endeavor.

In 2010, Susan received another devastating medical diagnosis, this time of ovarian cancer. During her tenure at Cornell, she had begun work on a MS in Communication, and in 2011 received her degree. This was an especially significant accomplishment, as Susan completed her thesis while undergoing the chemo phase of cancer treatment.

She continued working at UW through increasing rounds of medical treatment, finally taking a disability leave, followed by early retirement in 2015.

Susan was a great one for annual events, joining the Northwest Cornell Alumni group to watch the Blue Angels perform during Seafair in Seattle, going on a Finger Lakes wine crawl in Central New York State, heading over to Pullman for the Lentil Festival - really any excuse to get out and spend time with friends.

A woman of many interests and talents, both innate and acquired, she enjoyed concerts, lectures, photography, and watercolor painting. In 2003, she celebrated her 50th birthday with an extended trip to France, including a week in the Loire Valley, taking watercolor classes. From 2009-2011, Susan was a ringer with the UW Change Ringers of Gerberding Hall.

Susan applied her library skills in support of the Seattle Audubon Society, managing website content and working on a bibliography for the Bird Atlas. She was an avid fan and supporter of her own backyard wildlife, and took great pleasure in many outdoor activities, including camping, hiking, and bike rides.

Throughout her life, Susan provided a loving home to many pets, but her beloved dog Chardonnay ("Chardy") deserves special mention. She was her most devoted friend. A beautiful animal, Chardy was a fortuitous mix of a "registered Gordon Setter" and a "Big Yellow Dog." She entered Susan's life in Ithaca, came with her to Seattle, and enjoyed a long doggie life of 14 wonderful years.

As Susan's health problems increased, she was forced to give up her work life and eventually her home. But even during these times of personal, cascading disaster, she remained calm and "upbeat" to her friends and all those who cared for her.

Susan was preceded in death by her mother, Elaine Barnes, and is survived by her father, John Canute Barnes, brother Keith Barnes and his partner Karen D'Angelo, as well as numerous relatives and a wide circle of friends. She will be dearly missed.

"Goodbye?...

oh no, please. Can't we go back to page one and do it all over again?"

- Winnie the Pooh

Susan was a steadfast supporter of many causes and organizations, including libraries, historical societies, animal rescue and care, food banks, public television and radio, medical charities, veteran groups, and more. A complete list will be available at the Celebration gathering, or by contacting MaryBeth Blackburn (see below). In lieu of flowers, remembrances in her name may be made to a charity or cause of your choosing.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, September 30, 2017, 3:00 p.m. at Evergreen Washelli Funeral Home, 11111 Aurora Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98133.

RSVP family friend MaryBeth Blackburn, 206-327-0666 or email: [email protected]

In Lieu of Flowers, please make a donation in Sue's name to any of the following charities:

ASPCA Tributes

520 Eight Ave., 7th Floor

New York NY 10018

www.aspca.org

Baahaus Animal Rescue Group

PO Box 2356

Vashon WA 98070

www.baahaus.org

Old Dog Haven

621 SR9 NE, PMB A4