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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Obituary: Mcbride, Barbara

McBRIDE, Barbara 1929-2013 At the end, we were left with her essence: a radiant smile, eyes that crinkled with pleasure, a lilt in the voice, an instinctive kindness.

Barbara McBride was the most benevolent of mothers, the most gracious of friends, and the most loving of wives.

She was wonderfully smart and utterly capable: she could organize a gathering, stitch a smocked dress, remember a string of numbers, doodle a likeness, play a sonata, hoe a garden, analyze a test slide, soothe a child, win at Scrabble, and bake an apple pie.

She loved, admired, encouraged, and cherished her husband, her children, their spouses, their children.

Her friendships lasted a lifetime.

Barbara thought highly of her parents, of her mother-in-law, of her sisters, of her aunts and uncles and cousins.

She thought highly of most people.

She thought highly of life.

Barbara Ashe McBride was preceded in death by her husband Don McBride in 2007, and her daughter Debbie McBride in 1983.

She is survived by five of her children, Tracy (Conley), Bernie, Laura, Tom, and Dan; their spouses, Bob Conley, Vicki, Bill Yaffe, Jodi, and Maya; sixteen grandchildren, Lisa, Brian and Hannah Conley; Isaac, Grace, Sam and Madeline McBride; Stealth, Leah and Noah Yaffe; Jack, Grey and Ben McBride; Aidan, Liam, and Kieran McBride; and by her sisters Joan McBride (Mike) and Margaret Bond (Brian).

Barbara McBride was born in Granite Falls, WA, where she grew up on the family farm, and was proud to be Basque.

She graduated from Seattle University with a degree in medical technology in 1951.

She worked as a piano accompanist while at college, and as a medical technologist for more than 40 years after.

She volunteered her time at her children’s schools, at St. Joseph’s Church, at Our Place, and on the Diocesan School Board.

Funeral services will be at 11:30 am on Saturday, June 29, at St. Joseph’s Church, 1503 W. Dean.

If desired, please send donations to St. Joseph’s Church, or to Our Place, 1509 W. College.

Barbara cared deeply about the work both these organizations do in West Central Spokane.