BARBARA JOY MACLAURIN (LEE/NESS)
(1928-2017)

Barbara Joy MacLaurin died peacefully at home on Jan 2, 2017. She spent her final days in the home she built with her late husband, Robert MacLaurin, surrounded by the love and support of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Barbara Joy Ness was born on April 27, 1928, in Everett, WA. She graduated from Lake Stevens High School in 1946 and attended Everett Community College. Barbara worked in the secretarial field and was active in Executive Secretaries International. She achieved her Certified Professional Secretary rating in 1961.

In 1946 she married Kermit V. "Tony" Lee and they had three children: Randy, Tim, and Suzanne.

While in Everett, Barbara worked at American Tug Boat Company, Alaska Airlines and General Telephone. In 1967 she moved to Palo Alto, CA, and worked for her brother Gordon Ness at Ness Industries.

Barbara married Robert E. MacLaurin on Nov. 15, 1968. After his retirement from the Navy, they moved to Camano Island, WA, where Barbara worked for the City of Stanwood as Deputy City Clerk and Police Administration Assistant. She was also heavily involved with LEIRA (The Washington State Law Enforcement Information and Records Association), and her local chapter of Soroptomist International.

After her retirement from the City of Stanwood Barbara enjoyed being a member of the Garden Club, Widows Group, Writers Group, and Study Club.

Barbara wrote beautiful stories about her life and was considered the family's chief historian and archivist. She also enjoyed reading poetry, camping and fishing throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada, spending her annual "girls" weekend with her daughter and sister-in-law in La Push, WA, and traveling throughout the U.S. with friends, and to visit her children and grandchildren.

Barb was known by all of her friends and colleagues to be warm, friendly and outgoing. She had a generous spirit and a sense of humor that made her a joy to be around. To her kids and grandkids, she was affectionately known as "Dabaw," a nickname that she embraced as wholeheartedly as she did all the members of her immediate and extended family.

Barbara is survived by her sister Marydee Carlson, her children, Randy Lee and his wife Mary, Tim Lee and his wife Maryshannon, Suzanne Lee, grandchildren Jessica Heasley, Aimee Mellich, Cayce Macias, Tyler Lee, Reanne Hoblin, Mike Lee, five great grandchildren and the best dog she ever owned, Charger.

Services will be held on Monday Jan. 9 2017 at Noon at Gilbertson Funeral Home, 27001 88th Ave NW,
Stanwood, WA 98292. Share thoughts of Barbara online - www.gilbertsonfh.com