Barbara Dorene Garn

Barbara Doreen Kone Garn was born Sept. 15, 1931 to John Harold and Virginia Fancher Kone in Southgate Los Angeles, CA. The Story of how she got her name was when her mother was in the hospital when she had Mom (mothers would stay in the hospital for up to 10 days) her mother was reading a love story and in it was the name “Doreen” and she said “I Got It!” Barbara was added to make it harmonious.

She has 1 Brother, John Randall Kone, who passed away on Aug. 24, 2017 and two sisters still living Ann Roslyn Kone Boden and Alice Kathleen Kone Braze. Our Father, Gilbert Kay Garn passed away on Nov. 29, 2001. She is survived by Four children, Mark Dana and Gail Noreen Weber Garn, Larry Kip and Leslie Kaye Garn Westerfield, Larry Jesse and Shelley Renee Garn Selph, Reginaldo (Rey) and Meredith Leigh Garn Garcia. She has 9 Grandchildren and 8 Great-Grandchildren.

Mom got her early beginnings of playing the piano by accompanying her father who had a lovely singing voice. She never had the opportunity to take piano lessons but this was a joy to be able to learn as she played for her father. When the Chowchilla Branch was first organized she was called to be the pianist at the age of 12. She was the only one that knew where middle C was on the keyboard. She was a wonderful organist later in her life and played for our Church services for many years. Mom graduated from Merced Union High School, Merced CA June 10, 1949. She went to BYU in Sept. 1949 for one year.

She married her high school sweetheart in 1952 which ended shortly after having her son Mark who was born in May of 1953. She moved back to Monrovia, CA where she would eventually meet Gilbert Kay Garn.

1956 Mom and Dad married Civilly on Nov. 30, 1956

1957 Leslie was born

1960 Mom & Dad were then sealed in the Los Angeles Temple on June 15th.

1962 Shelley was born in April

Mom had a spiritual experience that she recorded in 1968:

“I had just come into Mother’s house at Cumorah Knolls having attended Relief Society. I was Relief Society President of the Clovis First Ward at this time. I walked into the purple bedroom to change my clothes when a strong feeling of great warmth came over me. I was told that I was in the right place doing the right things - that my place was with the women in the church.”

1968-69 Ward Relief Society Pres. of the Clovis 1st Ward.

1972 Meredith was born

1974 Called as Ward YW Pres. of Fresno 3rd Ward.

1975-78 Called as Stake YW Pres. of the Fresno East Stake.

(There wasn’t a Personal Progress Program, it had been dropped, Stake boards had been eliminated, and there were no manuals. They had to rely on the Spirit to direct them for the next 3 years.)

1982 Called as Ward RS Education Counselor under the direction of Elaine Soldani of the Fresno 3rd Ward.

1984 Called as “Stake” RS Education Counselor with Elaine Soldani as Pres. of the Fresno North Stake.

1986 Called as “Stake” RS President under the direction of Steve Christensen and was released in 1989. Upon her release the Stake did a special “This is Your Life” presentation which Jeanne Dehmel cross stitched the beautiful Woman that is on her display in the foyer.

Within those many years of service and hours away from family I was so happy to be the babysitter of Meredith.

She writes at the end of her spiritual experience “My place was truly with the woman of the Church.”

1990 Became a facilitator for the Steven Covey program “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and “First things First”.

1996 Registered with the International Society Daughters of Utah Pioneers

1998 Called to serve in the Oakland Temple and was released in Feb. 2000

2000 Called to serve in the Fresno Temple in April

2009 Released from Fresno Temple Officer Worker to be called as Temple Patron for 1 year.

2012 Moved to Brentwood (Under Shelley’s Care)

2015 Moved back to Fresno (Under Meredith’s Care)

2017 Moved to Sandy, UT (Under Leslie’s Care)

2019 Moved into a Skilled Nursing Facility in Lehi, Ut where she passed away.

She loved her family, and was always visiting her cousins and enjoying family gatherings. Our favorite family vacations was going to Dinkey Creek, CA. The memories of Grandma Kone’s kitchen table filled with boxes of food supplies for a couple weeks while the buying and baking filled the air. Mom couldn’t wait to get out in the Sun and lay out by the creek with her Coppertone Suntan Oil, A good book, and

her big floppy hat. Everyone knew that when Doreen entered the water everyone was supposed to get out as to now splash her and get her hair wet. Campfire skits, hours of cooking, laughing around the campfire was always a vacation we all looked forward too each year.

She had many hobbies of which one was you would always find her nose in a book. Not only did she love reading but she also loved the scriptures. Her scriptures were always marked up with notes, thoughts and inspiration. She was a wonderful Relief Society Teacher and every table cloth, poster, and outfit matched to the tee. She loved the Relief Society Program and always enjoyed putting together Bizarres, Dinners, and hosting special visitors from Salt Lake Church Head Quarters. The many hours she would spend in her study preparing for Stake Young Women’s, Stake Relief Society or any calling she was asked to do would always make you feel that you were important. She was very involved in Road Shows and Plays for many years such as “The Blue Ribbon Affair” and “America, The Promised Land” which was written and directed by

Joycel Cooper.

Mom learned the art of Color Analyzing in about 1962 from her Aunt Fay. For many years she would teach classes on what colors and makeup colors looked best on you. In her later years we added a room to the back of the house so she could continue private sessions with woman who wanted to know what “Season” they were. Everyone left her class with a color swatch card to keep in their purse for when they went clothes shopping. She loved sharing her talent with others.

Mom and Dad loved hosting parties at the house. There was so much laugher that we, as the children, would sit around the corner of the hallway and listen to their laughter. It sounded like so much fun. They spent many weekends going to the Oakland Temple serving the Lord followed by a good fish dinner at Fishermans Wharf with their dear friends. Mom and Dad also loved their get-a-ways to Carmel and Hawaii of which they went often. One of their favorite gatherings was going to the Hopkins Cabin “Mi-Wuk”. She loved the time they were snowed in and got to stay an extra day. They enjoyed their trips when they were accompanied with good friends.

Maureen Houghton wrote mom a letter back in 1990 remembering:

“I can’t forget nights laughing and singing around the campfire at Dinkey Creek. And what about the daytime? Could this be Doreen who walked unhesitatingly into that freezing cold water in the creek - without so much as a whimper, while the rest of us frail females squeaked and squealed as the frigid liquid surrounded us. You always glided off with your graceful crawl stroke - and you ALWAYS kept your head above water - not a wet hair, mind you. I’ve thought of that a bit - your ability to keep your head above water, maintaining that serene and composed image. I realize you’ve managed to do that in other real life situations too. In difficult times, when the more frail would have faltered or even given into frustration or discouragement, somehow you’ve been able to stroke your way through the icy waters like the strong life swimmer you are.”

Mom Cherished all of your friendships and saved every card, picture and letter that you wrote to her throughout the years. She saved all her emails as she would say “This is your journal”.

Mom loved Genealogy, Family History and Temple Service. She has albums upon albums of Family photos, histories and things that she has saved over the years. The only time she was sitting still was to read a good book, otherwise, she was working on lessons, family history and working on the computer getting names ready for the temple. She did this until her eyes just couldn’t see the computer monitor any more.

Some of her favorite things:

1. Bob’s Big Boy Onion rings

2. Her Candy Stash

3. Standing Weekly Haircut appts.

I have had the privilege of helping her these past couple of years and have watched her tiny little body prepare for the next calling in your life. She still had lipstick in every pocket, side table by her bed and always one in her purse. When she got her walker she kept one in there too. She made sure that we knew that she wanted to take a couple of lipsticks with her and so she will always still look her best. Mom may have not remembered what she had for lunch that day but she still knew who your were and

when to get up for Church which was so important to her. Later as her memory loss was progressing and she was transferred to a Skilled Nursing Facility, Larry would go over on Sundays and see that she got to attend her Sacrament Meeting. She loved to hum the hymns as they were being played. It’s been difficult to see such a busy, strong, active woman become weak, slow and forget were she put things but her faith and testimony in her Savior was always strong and firm. She has left a legacy of Faith, Service, Strength, Trust and love for the Lord that will last for generations to come. She has dear friends, family members and even a sweet little grand-daughter that she now has the joy to see once again.

On Sept. 15th, 2018 (her birthday) Allan Christensen, Bob Boden and Larry gave Mom a beautiful blessing: In part it stated that:

“There are those in your good lineage family that are waiting your arrival to continue on in your great service which will dwarf the service that has been rendered here because of where you are spiritually. You will do marvelous things quickly in serving the Lord fully in the way you’ve always have wanted too. You have served him, the Savior, in the pre-mortal life and loved him so dearly and wanted to come forth so excited and with joy that you could be born in the covenant and to come into this life having never not

been associated with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Mom’s Joy is our Joy. She continues to serve her Savior and has been ready for some time now to get back to work. She has stated that there’s a lot of work to do and we know she is in full vitally once again. We will miss her but we are so happy for the reunion that she is experiencing and has long awaited for.

Thank you to all of you who have been such wonderful friends to our family. We cherish the memories and relationships that are dear to our hearts. Until we meet again, Mom, may God be with you!

A Visitation for Barbara will be held Thursday, September 24, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Boice Funeral Home, 308 Pollasky Avenue, Clovis, CA 93612.

A Graveside Service will occur Friday, September 25, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. at Clovis Cemetery, 305 North Villa Avenue, Clovis, CA 93612.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.boicefuneralhome.com for the Garn family.