Elma Jean Barber

Long time Molalla resident Elma "Jean" Barber passed away in her sleep on June 28, 2019. Jean was born May 31, 1937 in Hillsboro, Oregon to Charles and Beryl Callahan. They lived in Forest Grove where she graduated from high school in 1955. Jean married Dale Barber on May 20, 1955. The two settle with their family in Molalla, Oregon in 1969.

When Jean decided to work outside the home in 1970 she landed a job at the Woodburn Sprouse Reitz variety store and worked there until the store closed in 1984. She transferred to the Canby Sprouse Reitz and then later to the Molalla Sprouse Reitz. In 1988 she went to work for Lenon Implement the John Deere dealership in Woodburn, Oregon where her husband, Dale was the Parts Manager. She officially retired in 2002 at which time Dale and Jean moved to Willamina, Oregon.

Jean was an avid bowler. She was the secretary for the Ladies Major League for 30+ years, as well as an officer for the Woodburn Women's Bowling Association for many years.

Often the family would join Jean and Dale on their many vacations which included bowling tournaments. These trips would take them to Florida, California, Nevada and Washington, plus they visited at least 32 more states! Dale and Jean spent their 25th wedding anniversary in Hawaii and after retirement in 2002 they took a cruise to Alaska.

Jean enjoyed gardening, canning, crocheting, card games, bingo, and her bowling. When the grandchildren started arriving it became a weekly event that Jean would have the whole bunch over for Sunday Dinners. Requested often was Gramma's roast and noodles.

Preceding Jean in death are her parents, Charles and Beryl Callahan; her husband, Dale Lee Barber in 2004; daughter, Cheryl Ann Warner in 2003; sons, Raymond Charles Barber in 2006 and John Edward Barber in 2009; and her sister, Marion Powers in May of 2019.

Jean is survived by her daughter, Iola; sister, Virginia Arnold; brother, George Callahan; 8 grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren.