Barbara Jean (Glass) Guernsey

March 18, 1924 – Aug. 16, 2016

At 92 years of age, with six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and 72 years of marriage to Harold Guernsey, Barbara Guernsey passed away Aug. 16, 2016.

Barbara had a very full life of love, spirit, appreciation and dedication. She is dearly missed by her family, friends and acquaintances.

Barbara Jean (Glass) Guernsey was born in Pike, Texas, on March 18, 1924. Later she moved north to Coos Bay, Ore., in search of work. After taking government-sponsored sheet metal classes in Coos Bay, Barbara ended up as Rosie the Riveter at the Boeing Plant in Seattle. There, she met Harold Guernsey and they were married May 5, 1944, two weeks before he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent overseas.

In 1949, Barbara and Harold built their home on Mercer Island, Wash., where they spent the next 24 years raising three children, Shirley Ann, Donna Sue and Gary Max.

Barbara was a homemaker who enjoyed entertaining, road trips and camping. In the 1960s Barbara was a finalist in the Mrs. Washington contest. She also opened her own knit shop on Mercer Island called the “Golden Needles” where she sold quality yarns and needle-crafts and taught many to knit.

During her later years, she and Harold enjoyed world travel, their vacation home at Driftwood Keys on Hood Canal and their timeshare on Wapato Point, Lake Chelan. They spent the month of February for 30 consecutive years at a resort village in Mexico where they made some wonderful longtime friends.

After leaving Mercer Island in 1972 and settling first in Seattle and then Shoreline, Barbara and Harold eventually moved to Useless Bay, Whidbey Island, where Barbara spent her last 18 years of life. Barbara is survived by her husband Harold; son Gary Guernsey (Joanne); daughter Shirley Lacy (Mike Lacy); five grandsons, Cameron, Craig, Scott, Brian and Kealan; and granddaughter Morgan. These and her nine great-grandchildren were the pinnacle of her life.

A celebration of her life will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7 at Trinity Lutheran church (SR 525), Freeland, on Whidbey Island. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Whidbey Island Hospice Care, 101 N. Main Street, Coupeville, WA.