Barbara Scott Tackett

BARBARA SCOTT TACKETT died with dignity and grace on Nov. 29, 2011. She accepted her diagnosis of cancer two weeks prior to her death by stating, "I have lived 86 wonderful years and I am content." Her final days were shared with loved ones, friends, and the compassionate staff at La Hacienda at La Posada in Green Valley, Ariz.

Barb graduated from Kingswood High School Cranbrook (Michigan) in 1943. She was one of the first women to enroll in the field of engineering at the University of Michigan. At that time, she was addressed as "Mister Scott" by a professor who did not believe that women should be engineers.

As a young woman, Barb was employed with Goodbody & Company as an administrative assistant from 1945-1948. She held various positions in Boulder, Colo. Among the companies she worked for were Biological Sciences & Curriculum Study, Head Ski, and Storage Technology.

Barb will be remembered for her bright mind, willingness to face life's challenges with courage, and her beauty - both inner and outer. She enjoyed politics, the stock market, reading and book clubs, bridge club and being involved in her community. During her life, she was a Kappa Alpha Theta, a member of the League of Women Voters and the Southwest Land Alliance. Some of her volunteer activities included being a Girl Scout leader, a foster parent, a suicide prevention hot-line counselor, a La Posada Election Committee member, and a programmer for the La Posada in-house network.

She found great pleasure in spending time with her family and created numerous memories that will help ease our sorrow. Among our fond memories are the "mystery trips" that she orchestrated for her grandchildren during her years in Pagosa Springs, Colo. These trips were sans parents, and the children were given enough information to prepare them for their special day, but the "mystery" was not revealed until the "trip" began. The mystery trips included horseback riding in the Colorado high-country, white-water rafting, rock-climbing, and hot-air ballooning.

On Sept. 26, 1925, Barb was born in Berwyn, Ill., to parents Ronald Appleton Scott and Muriel Jeanette Hall Scott. Six years later her brother, Ronald Albert (Bert) Scott, was born. All preceded her in death.

July 17, 1948 she married Reginald Howard. They had two daughters, Mimi Howard Taylor and Candace Howard Barchenger, who survive her. She is also survived by sons-in-law Brock Taylor and Ervin Barchenger as well as grandchildren Kimberly Barchenger, Christie Barchenger, and Cameron Taylor. She was preceded in death by a grandson, Christopher Lee Anderson in 2001.

In 1976 Barb married Belmont Swanzey in Tucson, Ariz. He preceded her in death.

She later married Cecil Tackett in Pagosa Springs Oct. 9, 1994. Barb is survived by Cecil's daughters, Susan Von Rosenberg (Harold), Nancy Johnson, three grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. She considered them a wonderful addition to her family.