Elizabeth Barnes

1912 - 2008

Elizabeth Barnes, 96, of Anacortes, died Saturday, March 22, 2008, at Island Hospital.

She was born Feb. 24, 1912, in Albury, New South Wales, Australia, the daughter of William and Emily (Kruse) Small. Elizabeth graduated from Sydney Girls High School in 1930, majoring in both math and science. After high school she entered Avondale College, New South Wales, and graduated in 1934 with a degree in journalism and business.

Elizabeth furthered her education in bookkeeping by attending Hemingway & Robertson Accounting School in 1935 and later took courses in data processing and accounting in 1968 at Syracuse Tech in New York.

While attending college she met Leonard S. Barnes and they were married Feb. 8, 1938, in Hobart, Tasmania.

During her life Elizabeth worked in many positions including retail store sales, industrial production clerk, bookkeeping, food service and medical secretary. Her last two places of employment were Paradise Valley Hospital in National City, Calif., and Crouse-Hinds Co. in Syracuse, N.Y., where she spent the last 30 years of her career.

Elizabeth traveled extensively throughout the world and also loved spending much of her time writing stories and poetry, many of which were published for others to read and enjoy.

A big part of her life was her involvement with the Seventh-day Adventist Church where she loved to sing in the choir and participate in various youth organizations. She attended her last North America-wide Pathfinder camporee in Wisconsin at the age of 92.

Elizabeth was endlessly involved in many crafts and hobbies including pottery making, costuming, china painting and nature collections of shells, sand, rocks, minerals and leaves. She loved her cats and collected much cat-related memorabilia such as books, scrapbooks and objects of porcelain. Observing many of these areas of her life makes it very apparent to all that she really loved life.

Elizabeth is survived by her son Ross O. Barnes of Anacortes; daughter Janette A. Lawrence of San Diego, Calif.; grandchildren and spouses R. Michael Lawrence of Baldwinsville, N.Y., Tara Lawrence and Todd Hinton of Fort Collins, Colo., Philipa Barnes and Joseph Lee of Citrus Heights, Calif., and Daniel Barnes of Long Beach, Calif.; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be given to Anacortes Community Forest Lands Conservation Easement Program.

Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel and Crematory of Anacortes. Share memories of Elizabeth and sign the online guest register at www.evanschapel.com.