Barbara Gagnon

Barbara Ellen Gagnon

4/5/1936 - 3/14/2025

Barbara Ellen (Fraser) Gagnon was born in Chicago, Illinois on April 5, 1936, the third child and only daughter of Charles A. Fraser and Josephine Thacker Fraser. Shortly after the start of World War II, the family relocated to Southern California where Barbara put down roots and remained a life long resident.

She attended Woodrow Wilson High School in Long Beach, class of 1954. She later attended both Long Beach City College and California State University at Long Beach earning a Bachelor's and Master's of Arts in Theatre.

She taught Theatre classes at Long Beach City College during the late 1970's, and later retired from the City of Chino as a specialist with the Cultural Arts and Recreation division. She also acted as liaison for the Chino Community Theatre. Barbara love the Theatre. She was an accomplished actor and director, involved, at various times, both on and off the stage. In addition to performing and directing, she also authored several stage and screenplays.

After retiring in 1997, Barbara developed a writing class geared toward recording stories from one's own family and personal history. She introduced the class at the Chino Senior Center and taught it there as a volunteer before moving to Bakersfield. After settling in Bakersfield, Barbara again volunteered her services to develop and teach the same family history class at a local recreation center here in Bakersfield.

In Bakersfield, Barbara was active both on the stage and off, at the Empty Space Theatre and the Bakersfield Community Theatre, where she maintained her passion for the Theatre. Through that work, she developed many, many friends who remained dear to her for the rest of her life.

Most precious of all to Barbara was her family. Nothing pleased her more than to have her whole family together, to hear them laugh, argue good-heartedly, and tease one another. It became more difficult to pull them all together at one time as her family grew and some relocated. Still, it was her goal each summer to continue the family tradition of bringing as many members as possible together for three days at Lake Mojave on the Colorado River.

Barbara is preceded in death by her husband Ron Gagnon in 2018. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Linda and Arthur (Zeke) Jones, son and daughter -in-law Scott and Connie Russell, daughter Mary Joe Russell, son and daughter-in-law Michael and Cindy Russell. In addition to grandchildren, Jon Wilson, Jennifer Wilson, Rebecca Wyrick, Erin Saldana, Emily Doty, Cara McCoy, Ryan McCoy and Alyssa Flores. Her granddaughter Lisa Russell preceded her in death in 2011. Barbara's great grandchildren include Christian, Mara, Julien, Brightyn, Freya, Caleb, Mia, Gabriella, Liam, and Ellie.