Barbara M. Garypie

1935 - 2016

Barbara M. Garypie obituary, 1935-2016

Barbara M. Garypie

1935 - 2016

Barbara Garypie Obituary

Published by Legacy Remembers on Feb. 19, 2017.
Barbara was born to Helga and Robert Phillips of St. Claire Shores, Michigan. She graduated from high school there in 1953.

Always gifted with a beautiful singing voice, she took up formal study of music at Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, earning her Bachelor of Arts in 1960.

A winner of the Metropolitan Opera competition in 1963, Barbara went on to complete her Master of Music in voice at the University of Michigan.

Barbara married Renwick Garypie in 1963. They had two children, Robert and Catherine.

She expanded her interests beyond music in many directions over the years. At various times, she was an elementary school teacher, a real estate broker, a life insurance representative, a patient advocate in a large city hospital and a Vista Volunteer, teaching adults how to read and write. In 1980, she was licensed by the state of Michigan to practice social work.

In 1990, she met Dr. Ira Progoff and she became certified to teach his Progoff Intensive Journal. She then developed and taught a series of workshops called "Writing Your Life Story," which she presented in many places over 20 years.

In 2005, Barbara and Renwick began traveling the country in an Airstream trailer, finally settling in Sequim, where her life ended on December 24, 2016.

Surviving are her husband, Renwick Garypie of Sequim; daughter Catherine Garypie of Chicago, Illinois; and son Robert (Lisa) Garypie of Chelsea, Michigan.

A celebration of her life is planned for Saturday, March 18, 2017, at 2 p.m. in the Olympic Unitarian Universalist fellowship hall, 1033 North Barr Road, Port Angeles.

Donations in her memory may be made to Volunteer Hospice of Clallam County, 540 East Eighth Street, Port Angeles WA, 98362.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

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