Our beloved mother, Barbara Elizabeth Burrus, 91, of Ferndale, passed away peacefully on Feb. 2, 2017 in Lynden with her family at her bedside.
Barbara was born Oct. 6, 1925 in Oakland, California, to Florence (Peterson) and Jack Harris. As a child Barbara lived in Seattle with her grandma and grandpa Peterson, graduating from Queen Ann High School in 1943. Barbara had many adventures as a child along the Seattle waterfront and would tell wonderful stories about these adventures. In 2007, Barbara went for a flight in a B-17 Flying Fortress at the age of 81. She was active in the Red Cross and VFW.
Barbara married Roderic Cooper, a career navy man, and they had two children, Linda and Clell. In the early 1950s Barbara moved back to Seattle where she met and married her second husband, Harold Myer. They had two children, Jeff and Janice, and lived in Ballard up from the government locks. In the early 1960s, Barbara met and married Richard Burrus with whom she had a daughter Verdie. Residing in Sumas, they owned and operated the Maple Leaf I and II taverns before moving to Ferndale and opening the Border Town Tavern in Blaine. Barbara retired in 1993.
Barbara is survived by her brother, Bob Harris, of Aqua Dulce, California; her children, Linda (Kevin) Petraborg of Port Angeles, Jeff (Rebecca) Myer, Janice (Barry) Sen, and Verdie (Paul) Wagenaar, all of Lynden; grandchildren Shawn, Bryan, Kirsten, Collin and Cameron; great-granddaughter Allysha and great-great-granddaughter Sophia Grace.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Jack and Florence; her sister Florence Burns; son Clell Cooper; and husbands Harold Myer and Richard Burrus.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17, in Gillies Funeral Home. Interment will be in Monumenta Cemetery.
A very special thank-you to Hospice, Among Friends Adult Family Home and caregivers Cory, Sara, Debra, Tara, Kim and John for taking such good care of Barbara.
You are invited to share your condolences and memories in the online guestbook at www.gilliesfuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Lynden.
