Part 3:
Sports.  Oh my god, she loved sports.  Football, Baseball, Basketball, and when she could still see the puck, hockey.  She adopted all her favorite players.  She has team shirts and bobble-head dolls for both the Giants and Warriors.  In 2012 the Giants won the world series. That era, she loved the Kung Fu Panda, Pablo Sandoval. She wore Panda slippers during the games for luck.  She and Dad went to visit the World Series trophy and took their picture with it.  When I visited throughout the years, sports, PBS, and the news were the only things on TV.  I don’t do sports at all, so I didn’t know there is always a game on TV.  

I also loved talking to her about politics.  She was a huge advocate for women’s rights, human rights, LGBTQ2+ rights, and equity in general. But then, artists are notoriously open minded. And she’s definitely an artist in so many mediums.   She was so excited when Hillary Clinton ran for President.  She showed me the ‘Woman Card’ she received from the campaign.  She was so proud of it and so disappointed when Hillary dropped out.  

Dad and I and the rest of the world lost a beautiful, gracious, kind woman who positively  influenced everyone she met.  She added beauty and Joy to the world though her art, music, fashion sense, home.  I love you, Barb.  See you on the other side.

Part 2:
As an adult, it has been wonderful knowing both of my parents has humans instead of authority figures.  I call every week to chat.  During these chats and my annual visits,  Barb would always update me on their busy social life.  This generally included descriptions of the beautiful vacations, events, and restaurants she and Dad attended and the wonderful food they had wherever they went.  The decorating, architecture, gardens, music, views, and what they were wearing were always included in glowing terms.  I called her a social butterfly and we laughed about it. Everything was beautiful, fabulous, glorious, and exquisite, for her.  Anything bad in the world, she kindly disapproved of in typical southern bell manner. Bless your heart.

 These last few years, the outings stopped.  But she still updated me about what all of you, her friends and family, were up to. I can’t put a face to all the names yet, but I feel like I know all of you. Without ever leaving the house, she still had a better social life than I do.  She was and always will be a social butterfly. 

I loved listening to her updates.  Even when her Rheumatoid arthritis kept her confined to the back of the house, she still sounded like she had the best life ever when we talked.  She had such a positive attitude towards life, she fooled me about the severity of her illness for years.  I knew she couldn’t leave the house, but she was so happy when we talked that I thought she was ok.  I regret not visiting more.  I will visit Dad more than once a year, I promise.  I ask all of you to call and visit Dad to keep his spirts up.

I call my parents every week to chat.  On one call years ago, Barbara told me about attending a July 4th festival.   She was confronted by the fashion police and issued a ticket for being just too  much.  I  have no idea what she was wearing, but I’m sure it had lace and sequins and flowers in bulk.  I think she mentioned a lace parasol  and sun hat too.  That’s how Barb lived life – Over the top and living large. Which is the exact opposite of Dad and me. I think that’s why she and Dad we’re so perfect for each other, she showed him that it’s ok to be in the spotlight.  While she reveled in being the star of the show, he got to bask in the glow surrounding her.  I’m just now realizing that I seek out that glow in my relationships too.  Their love is the standard I’m looking for in life.

One of my fondest memories of childhood is sitting in the sanctuary of Montview Presbyterian Church on Thursday night and Sunday morning choir practice with the huge pipe organ.  I would listen to Dad and Barb sing with the choir and organist and read smut romance novels that I snuck in.  Back then, Dad and Barb thought I was too young to read smut.  I still read those romance novels.  Those days have given me a  life-long appreciation for the solitude of empty sanctuaries,  Gothic Architecture, church pipe organs, and Handel’s Hallelujah Chorus blasting from a pipe organ with an awesome choir.  It’s the closest to heavy metal classical you can get.

Barbara truly was a beautiful person, inside and out.She will be missed by many…but good memories will stay with us.

Barbara & I met our junior year at Oklahoma State University. We both accepted teaching positions in Denver, CO and decided to be roommates, the two Okie Girls. We had so many adventures over the years. She traveled to Germany to be in my wedding. Her vibrant personality will be so missed. Heart Felt Hugs to Ken and family.

My colleague at Mills College, Donna Petersen, introduced me to Barb years ago.  Together with Sara Ganz, the three singers and I formed a group we called "The Divas."  We performed together several times and had a lot of fun doing recitals.  Even after we stopped singing together, we met twice a year to have lunch.  Much laughter happened as we talked and re-connected.  Barb always took photos of these lunches and shared them with us.  Good memories!

I will always associate the phrase "What a hoot!" with Barbara, since it seemed to be a favorite saying of hers.  Well, it was a "hoot" to know and love Barbara.  I'm so glad she was a part of my life.

OBITUARY

Barbara Ruth Adams

October 6, 1942 – January 14, 2024

Keaton’s Mortuary

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