Cecile Christine (Wilson) Barnes

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 Cecile Christine (Wilson) Barnes, 104, resident of Toledo, Wash., joined her husband, Alf and her Lord and Savior in heaven April 23, 2016, in Longview, Wash. She was born on a farm in Missouri, the only child of Clement and Laura (Baker) Wilson.

Cecile always enjoyed school and knew from early childhood that she wanted to be a teacher. She always excelled in school, was valedictorian at her high school graduation and finished university Summa cum laude. She went on to teach a total of 40 years, usually in the middle grades, but at one point worked with a college helping train teachers.

In 1946,Cecile married Alf H. Barnes in Southern California and they shared 32 wonderful years together before he died in 1978. His three grown children accepted Cecile into the family with open arms. When stepdaughter, Ferne Boice was widowed, she moved to Toledo, to live beside Cecile, on the property next to the Cowlitz River. The Toledo community has been a supportive place, where they both enjoyed serving in many activities. She was baptized into the Christian Church in her late 20s in Missouri. Cecile then became Methodist with Alf, prior to coming to Toledo, where they joined the Toledo Presbyterian congregation. She held many church offices including, moderator, secretary, historian, pianist, choir, 11 years as financial secretary and coordinating team member in the Presbytery and was a ruling elder. She also held many other offices within the Toledo community. Cecile served on the cemetery board, precinct chairman on the cheese days committee, was a correspondent for local newspapers for 6 1/2 years, was a member of the Lioness Club, serving as president. Cecile was an organizer all her life and enjoyed her many pursuits.

Other lifelong activities that she enjoyed were, flower and vegetable gardening, traveling, reading, music, writing poetry, designing greeting cards for friends and family and watercolor painting.

Cecile was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Alf; three stepchildren, Elton Barnes, Cadett Barnes and Ferne (Barnes) Boice; two step-granddaughters, Ellen (Barnes) Cook and Carrie (Barnes) (Lewin) Parris.

She is survived by four step-granddaughters, Dorothy (Barnes) Allen Wheeler of Federal Way, Wash., Nancy (Barnes) Edward Adams III of Stanwood, Wash., Isle (Barnes) Ervin Lindall of Mount Vernon, Wash. and Bea (Barnes) (Hutchisson) Robson of Sedro Woolley, Wash.; eight step-great-grandchildren, 15 step-great-great-grandchildren; and her beloved cat, Dixie, who has been her constant companion for the last 12 plus years. Cecile is also survived by her friend, Patricia Enbody, who was her dear friend for many, many years and grocery shopper for th last eight months.  They enjoyed many Sunday tea parties together.

Special thanks to her caregiver, Lois Wilson of Vader, for her constant care, companionship and consideration of Cecile for the last eight months. Without Lois, she would not have been able to remain in her home next to the Cowlitz, until two days before she died.  

A graveside service at 12:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 1:00 p.m., will be held Saturday, April 30, 2016, at Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel, 351 N. 5th St., Toledo, Wash. A reception at Toledo Presbyterian Church, 312 Augustus St., Toledo, Wash., will immediately follow.

The family requests that memorial contributions in Cecile’s name be made to Toledo Presbyterian, P.O. Box 396, Toledo, WA 98591.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Fir Lawn Funeral Chapel, Toledo, Wash.