Barbara Crockett

Barbara Joan Shannon Crockett Resident of Concord. CA Barbara, passed away peacefully the evening of January 18th, 2013, in Concord, CA. Born in New York City to Hazel Ford Shannon (deceased in 1933, at age 43) and Frank Cutler Shannon (deceased in 1935 at age 44). Raised in Forest Hills, NY. and developed a love of the outdoors with her Dad's guidance. After being orphaned Barbara was raised by her Aunt and Uncle Ford in Winnetka, IL. and then by her loving Aunt Helen and Uncle Harry Taylor of Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Barbara attended Emma Willard School in Troy, NY. and then Bradford Junior College in Bradford, Massachusetts. She met her first husband, James Knag Brorsen, of Oakland, CA, in Boston, where he was attaining his MBA at Harvard University after World War II. After their marriage, Barbara and Jim returned to the Oakland area and began raising their family. Barbara was mother to Stephen Cutler Brorsen (born in 1947 ), John Cutler Brorsen (born in 1954) and Peter Knag Brorsen (born in 1956). Barbara and Jim lived Lafayette, CA from 1950 until their divorce in 1968. Barbara then went on to get her RN degree in 1971 from Contra Costa College and spent the next years as a trusted member of the Samuel Merritt Hospital nursing team. She met Paul Crockett of Oakland, CA in 1972. They married the next year at the San Mateo home of Jim's brother, Robert Knag Brorsen and his wife, Joy. After Pauls' retirement as President of the Local Union 870, they resided in Alameda and Walnut Creek, CA before moving to Eagle Lake in northeast California, where they spent 9 years enjoying the country life. They then moved to Grass Valley, CA and spent the next 9 years enjoying life in the Gold Country. In 1993 they completed their circle and moved back to Rossmoor, in Walnut Creek, CA. Paul passed away in 1998, Barbara continued to live in Rossmoor until 2009, when ill health forced a move to the warm and loving nursing facility in Concord, CA where she spent her final days. Barbara is survived by her sons, her daughter-in-law, Diane, grandchildren Brooks and Aidan, step-sons, Bruce and Neil and their families. She is missed by her numerous nephews and nieces of her half-sister, Jane Ford Walling, the Taylors and the Brorsens. She was preceded in death by Jane and her younger brother, Eugene Shannon, of Cleveland, OH. She requested no service be held, but instead she suggested everyone take a friend to a movie and lunch, pick up a good book or a crossword puzzle or plant something new in the garden. She will be missed by all that had the pleasure to have known her.