Barbara Barrett

Born and raised in Whitefish, MT, the only child of Clara and Marvin Kaber, she enjoyed a happy childhood. Her dad was a railroad engineer and her mother owned a fabric store. Because of this Barbara and her mom often took the train on passes to Spokane to shop.

Education was a big factor in Barbara’s life. She graduated from Whitefish High School in 1959, and then went on to college where she earned her teaching credentials from the University of Oregon and later, two masters degrees, one in reading from Boise State, the other in library science from Arizona State.

Barbara began her teaching career in Springfield, OR, moving to Boise, ID in 1973 with her former husband, Ralph Barrett and their two children, Michelle and Michael.

She taught in Wilder, ID and then at Hillside JHS in Boise, where she eventually became librarian until she retired in 2006 and moved the following year to Austin to be near her youngest grandchildren.

Never one to sit on the sidelines, Barbara was a member of a virtual alphabet soup of organizations – BEA, IEA, BRA, IRA, ILA, NEA, conferences of all kinds, delegate assembly, bowling league, Assistance League of Austin, and, in 1985 was the Idaho designee for National Teacher of the Year.

Wherever there were books, school or library issues or needs, there was Barbara, a champion for the cause. The one thing she diligently advocated was the certification of ALL school librarians – elementary schools included.

She was a traveler, especially after retirement – Spain, France, Italy, the British Isles, Mexico and just last Thanksgiving took her whole family to Hawaii.

She is survived by her daughter, Michelle Pokorny and grandson Andrew of Moscow, ID, granddaughter Katie of Spokane, WA, and her son Michael Barrett, wife Cindy, their children, Melinda and Rhys of Austin, TX, an uncle and several cousins and her large circle of friends. Her parents preceded her in death.

Barbara was many things to many people – accepting, able to “tell it like it is”, and involved in more activities than most. She will be remembered as someone who lived life to the fullest.

A gathering in her honor was held at her home on Sunday, January 23, 2011.