Barbara Mae Beasley peacefully passed away December 20, 2020 in Centralia, Washington at the age of 91.  She was born April 20, 1929 to Robert and Mabel McInnes in Seattle.  She attended school in the Richmond Beach School District and after graduating from high school in 1946 headed to Western Washington College of Education in Bellingham to become a teacher.

While at college she met Jim Beasley who became the love of her life.  After graduating from Western in 1950 she started her first teaching job as a 2^nd grade teacher in the Sequim School District and got married to Jim on August 4, 1951.  After getting married, she relocated in her second teaching job as a 2^nd grade teacher at Conway Elementary School as Jim was already teaching in Skagit County.

Barbara loved children and was always very patient and caring which made her a very special teacher.  She loved going to work each day trying to meet each student’s needs to help them learn, improve, and achieve.  After teaching for a few years, Barbara and Jim started a family and they had two sons, Jeff born in 1956, and Kirk born in 1958.  Her children took center stage and Barbara left teaching for a few years while raising a young family until they reached school age.  In 1961 Barbara got the call back into teaching and returned to Conway Elementary as a 5^th grade teacher and remained in that position until she and Jim both retired in 1985.

In 1985, Barbara and Jim had their dream home built overlooking the Chewuch River just outside of Winthrop, Washington and moved there when it was completed.  The family had spent many summers and holiday weekends camping on their property they originally bought in 1968.  Jim and Barbara continued to live there until 1998 when they downsized and moved to Centralia, Washington for the colder months, but returned to Winthrop each Spring and Summer for shorter stays to enjoy living in Okanogan County in the family’s original mountain cabin.

Barbara loved spending time with family, baking, crafting, camping, going to the beach, watching Jeopardy, and many other activities.  She enjoyed reading and would not miss an opportunity to work a holiday or family jigsaw puzzle.  She very much enjoyed any and all of the holidays; especially if family was involved.  Barbara enjoyed music throughout her life.  Her instrument of choice was the piano with the classics and church hymns as some of her favorite tunes.  Being the granddaughter of a Methodist circuit preacher she enjoyed attending church activities and most recently attended locally, Cook’s Hill Community Church in Centralia.

With her immediate family being boys she was very pleased to be rewarded with 4 granddaughters that she loved spending time with them baking, and sharing her various crafting skills like quilting, crocheting and needlepoint.

After 54 years of marriage, Jim passed away in 2006.  Barbara continued to live in Centralia nearby her son Jeff and his family for the remainder of her life.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Jim Beasley, her two sisters Dorothy Oxford and Judy Fuller, and an infant granddaughter Bethany Beasley.  She is survived by her two sons Jeff (Helen) Beasley in Centralia and Kirk (Carol) Beasley in Manhattan Beach, CA, her four Granddaughters Jordanne (Kyle) Beasley-Ratkie in Tenino, Taylor (Wes) Arnes in Anchorage, AK, Madison (Michael) Schock in Centralia, and Laura Beasley in Manhattan Beach, CA, and Great Granddaughter Ellie Arnes in Anchorage, AK.

There will be a private family only service held at Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley, Washington.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests any donations be made out to Cook’s Hill Community Church in Centralia, Washington. Please share memories of Barbara and sign the online guest register.