Obituary of Barbara C. Depew

Our mother and wife, Barbara 75, of Twin Falls took our Lord’s hand to walk with Him in eternal life on December 19, 2013 in her home surrounded by family and friends. She fought a long and courageous battle with cancer but leaves an everlasting legacy of love for her family and friends. Mom was born October 10, 1938 in Southard, OK to Cal and Pauline Harper who settled their family in Jerome, ID in 1952 where she graduated in 1956. In high school mom was involved in a girl’s singing trio, basketball, and synchronized swimming. Mom married our dad, Jay, on August 15, 1959 following a nursing degree from Montana State in Bozeman, Mt. To this union were born the first of four daughters: Paula (Randy) Chapman of Buhl, ID, Brenda (Tom) Baumiester of Wenatchee, WA, and Marcia Depew of San Diego, CA. She and dad moved to Twin Falls in February, 1970. Mom received her teaching certificate in 1972 from Idaho State and their fourth daughter, Jayna (Dave) Hammericksen, was born. We kept her busy with making dance costumes, piano lesson and sport practices, holding offices in Job’s Daughters Bethel #43, taking food to the fair while we showed animals in 4-H, attending rodeos and basketball games. More recently mom and dad traveled to various western universities to attend our eight graduations. Mom’s teaching career in Twin started at Harrison Elementary, then to O’Leary Jr. High and finally to Twin Falls High for 24 years of helping students, and her daughters, to become lifelong learners. Mom was a perpetual student attending many conferences in English and reading; she received her master’s in reading from Boise State in 1988 and retired in 2001. It was mom’s commitment to family and bettering one’s life that is her legacy to us. Mom moved with dad early in their marriage to Moscow, Guam, Ohio, Denver, Salt Lake, and finally Twin Falls building a life’s foundation of love, wisdom, experiences, and devotion to God. She and dad divorced in 1982 and mom was married to Jim Sears for 12 years. They enjoyed camping and square dancing in the Hazelton area and again Mom’s wisdom and experiences added to the legacy she built for us. Our mom and dad remarried in 2001 and lived in Denver. Together they enjoyed traveling the western US visiting the four of us in four different states and attending many grandkids school events, baseball games, and plays. They also enjoyed visiting friends in various states, attending rodeos and western events, living in the mountains, and eating at unique restaurants in the small towns they traveled through. If it was too cold outside mom enjoyed sitting in a warm home or lodge reading, talking with us girls, and keeping up with her seven grandkids. Mom enjoyed cooking and trying new recipe’s and was our family organizer for Christmas gatherings and family reunions. She loved it when all 16 of us gathered at their home or a cabin or the beach to celebrate family. Mom’s teaching career added many wonderful friends to her life where she enjoyed being a member of book clubs, coffee groups, Chapter BE of PEO, and the First Baptist Church playing bells and singing in the choir. Mom is preceded in death by her parents and leaves on earth to join her some day in heaven: a loving husband, four daughters, great sons-in-law, four handsome grandsons: Allen and Nick (Paula), Mitchell (Marcia), and Dayne (Jayna), and three beautiful granddaughters: Tessa and Joy (Brenda) and Annde (Jayna); Mom’s brothers- Jeff (Jackie) Harper of Mtn. Home, ID and Walt (Phyllis) Harper of Charlotte, NC. She also leaves behind two sisters-in-law Charlotte Jorgenson of Twin Falls and Eileen Capps of Salt Lake City; as well as many other family members and lifelong friends. To everyone we invite you to join us for our mother’s Celebration of Life at the First Baptist Church of Twin Falls on Saturday, December 28, 2013. It will be at 1:00 pm with “Mom’s Chocolate Affair” social at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in mom’s honor to any charity that betters people’s lives. We would like to thank the doctors and staff of MISTI and St. Luke’s Hospice for their outstanding care to our mother. We also appreciate the care, visits, and food of her good friend Marsha Eden and sisters from Chapter BE. Family and friends are encouraged to share their memories of Barbara at www.rosenaufuneralhome.com