Marian Elaine Barr

July 10, 1933 - March 4, 2025

Mom, Marian Elaine Barr, slipped away quietly during an afternoon rest a few days ago. She has been living in hospice at Luna Cottage near her Silver Lake Home. Her daughter was the caregiver for both Rick and Elaine until hospice began last year. Elaine was born to Oge and Minnie Jensen in Tacoma Washington. She began piano lessons by taking tap classes and would go on to accompany friends, choirs and musicals many through Stadium HS. She was blessed with a gaggle of youth group friends. Elaine went to Tacoma General Hospital after graduation, to become a Registered Nurse. Upon graduating she worked as a surgical nurse at Northern Pacific Hospital where she met her future husband, WWII Veteran, Chet, holding the Readers Digest upside down. They were married in 1958 and honeymooned on the way to Kansas to meet his family. Elaine worked until she had Rick their first child and not too soon after their daughter Diane. In the early part of their marriage, they lived in Ellensburg, home of the Sunday afternoon drive. No grass grew under her feet as she was busy accompanying church services, volunteering for the Red Cross, homemaking and canning and being introduced to Pioneer Girls who she would be a volunteer for many years. She made a life-long friend, Mary, and they remained close till Mary’s passing. She was the camp nurse for a number of years and sometime after moving to Everett she became the camp registrar. She greeted each day singing a different hymn, much to the distress of our pets. Her last cat, Cabbie named after dad’s initials – CAB. In Everett she made another lifelong friend Janice, along with a number of women in Bible Studies. Amid her volunteering she was a consummate knitter and seamstress. All first-generation blood relatives were blessed with baby sweaters. There soon became too many feet to knit for. Chet, Elaine, & Rick traveled extensively throughout the United State heading in circuitous routes to see her brother and family, in Indiana, and Chet’s’ Family and “new” blood relatives in Kansas and beyond. They had favorite like taking a winter month in Palm Desert.

Rick Allan Barr 3/3/59 - 8/30/2024

Rick accompanied Diane to UW Northwest for overnight surgery. Rick shared the room with Diane as an unofficial patient. He ended up making himself quite at home, sitting at the front desk and having guests come and take him for walks on campus. In a completely unforeseen tragedy Rick suffered a severe brain hemorrhage and passed away. It seemed mom’s dementia eased the heartbreak and acute severity of the loss. From another perspective Rick received the blessing of not having to bury his mom. God’s mercies come in unexpected ways. What rejoicing there must have been for mom to greet her son and husband in Heaven.

Elaine leaves behind her daughter, Diane Gherman, of Edmonds, her brother and wife, Byron & Marlene Jensen, of Indiana, and their grown children. Elaine additionally leaves behind her beloved nieces and nephews in Kansas.

There will be a memorial service at Everett Funeral Home & Cemetery, 4504 Broadway, Everett, WA 98208 on Thursday, March 20, 2025 followed by a sweet snack and coffee. All are welcome.