Jeanne Barber, 83 year-old Sherman resident, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, January 1, 2009 at Wilson N. Jones Medical Center.

Memorial services will be 2 PM Wednesday, January 7, 2009 in the Hopkins Memorial Chapel at First United Methodist Church in Sherman. Dr. Thomas Peel of the church will officiate and cremation arrangements are under the direction of Waldo Funeral Home. The family will take Jeanne's ashes back to Seattle, Washington to be placed next to her husband at Fort Lawton, an army post he once commanded.

Jeanne was born Mary 25, 1925 in Magna, Utah, the daughter of Frank B. Chapman and Rita Sage Chapman. She graduated from high school in Magna, Utah married Col. John W. Barber on July 23, 1943 in Olympia, Washington.

Jeanne grew up during the depression and it molded her sense of generosity. She could not stand seeing people go without. She would literally give you the shirt off her back if she thought you needed it. A typical response to a compliment on a pair of earrings she was wearing was ?here you can have them, they will look better on you.?

She was a loving mother and grandmother, devoted spouse, active in city, state and US politics. Jeanne never met a stranger and was generous to a fault. If she was your friend, you never had a more loyal and trustworthy friend.

At the urging of her son Steven, she became active in politics after the death of her husband, Col. John W. Barber in 1977. She went on to a 25 year political career as a Legislative assistant to US Congressman Norm Dicks of Washington, Senior Legislative Assistant to Washington State Senator Frank Warnke and many years on the city council and as mayor Pro Tem for the City of Auburn, Washington. Tragically, Steven never saw the great things she accomplished as he died in an automobile accident in 1978. The governor of the state of Washington once quipped that ?Jeanne was the only person who could overrule Congressman Dicks.?

Jeanne also provided significant service to the community through many important organizations, including the Valley Kiwanis Club where she was the first female president, the Noon Kiwanis Club, the King County Mental Health Boards, the AIDS-HIV Care Access Project and King County Multi-service Center. She was named a ?Home Town Hero? by the city of Auburn.

She moved to Texas following her retirement to be near her son and grandchildren.

She was a big fan of Sherman Mayor Bill Magers and freely gave advice, whether requested or not. Her love of politics never faded. She was a staunch Democrat.

She was a truly giving person and the world is a better place because she was here.

All her family and friends in Sherman, as well as Auburn, will miss her greatly.

She is survived by two sons, Gregory Barber and his wife Victoria of Sherman and John T. Barber and his wife Kathy of Carlsbad, Calif.; four grandchildren, Cody M. Barber, Greg Barber, Jr. and his wife Jennifer, Ensign Steven Barber and Brandy L. Barber; one great granddaughter, Olivia P. Barber; brother, Darrell Chapman of Seattle, Wash.; sister, Donna Duckworth of West Jordan, Utah. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, also a son, Steven C. Barber and a daughter Kimberly Anne Barber.

The online guest register can be signed at www.waldofuneralhome.com.