Barbara Ree Saunders, 95

Barbara Ree Saunders lost her year and half battle with cancer on May 10th. She passed peacefully at home with lots of love surrounding her.
She was born October 3, 1928 the youngest daughter of Grace Jane & Clarence Lenard Skeen in Burbank, CA. Her older siblings were sister Dorothy & brother C Lynn. She married her brother’s best friend, Robert William Saunders, when he returned from Navy, in September 1946. They had a full life together for nearly 70 years. They raised a daughter & 2 sons moving around Southern CA from San Luis Obispo, the LA area, and the small mountain town of Wrightwood before settlings in San Diego as their children grew up. They retired to live in Lake Havasu City, AZ for 45yrs where together they built their own home in the early days of town growth overlooking the lake & operated a small Security Window Blinds Company.

Barbara moved to Whitefish in 2017 to be closer to family. She was thrilled to enjoy the small town environment again & friendly community atmosphere. At 95 she is the proud Mother of 3, Grandmother to 7, Great Grandmother to 14 and is excited to be welcoming her first Great Great Grandson.
Her family, Grand Children & Great Grand children presented her with a “Legend of Barbara” project – each contributing a memory that best describes Barbara as: “Puzzle Master, Saintly Patience, Nice & a Little Naughty, Sparkling Blue Eyes, Loyal Loving Wife, Proud But Humble, Seamstress Extraordinaire, Hugh Heart, EggNog Sipper, Wise Mother & Mother-in-Law, Scuba Diver, Foreign Student Hostess, Boater on Lake Havasu, Grandma to 7, Round Waterbed, Reluctant Pilot, 14 GreatGrands, DIY Aficionado, Athletic Lefty, Stubborn & Adaptable, Cookie Lady, Desert Bloomer, Travel Addict, Teenage Bride, Mother of Three, Quick Laugh, Rusty Mistress, Garden Enthusiast Tine Stature, Energetic Bunny”.

Barbara lived a full life with lots of adventures and memories. She was able to travel to most of the States in the US, plus-Baja, Australia, Scotland & Switzerland. Her interest in volunteering was her way to stay active and get out to meet folks. She started joining her daughter at the Whitefish Theatre, Alpine Theatre, Glacier Symphony and often enjoyed many of the Whitefish Chamber events. Soon she was lending her hand at the Whitefish Food Bank, then prepping for Meals on Wheels at the Whitefish Community Center, where she also regularly joined the Senior Exercise classes. Her greatest pleasure was the years she spent working alongside Marvin Parker distributing cookies weekly as the “Cookie Lady” for North Valley/Logan Health-Whitefish. Whitefish Winter Carnival honored them this year as their Senior Queen & King riding in the Annual Parade. She loved enjoying sunny days gardening around the house when she did not have other commitments. Barbara cherished the independence of driving her own car often helping other senior friends locally around Whitefish.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, her sister & brother, loving husband and both her sons, Daniel Randolf Saunders & Andrew William Saunders. She is survived by her daughter Pamela Ree Saunders, her 2 daughters & their families: Michele & Scott Montgomery, their daughters Mikaila and Kathleen from Cle Elem, Shari Johnson & her daughters Caley and Teagan Halloran here in the Flathead. Daughter-in-Laws & families - Vara Saunders-Meiris & Greg Meiris with her sons, Mark & Stephanie their 4 children Erin, Rylie, Wyck & Auggie Saunders; Luke Saunders & fiancé Shianne Hansen all from Fort Collins & Colorado Springs, CO. Sharon Saunders with her 3 kids & families; Drew & Kat- Hudson, Paige & Van Saunders of NY; Lucinda & Danny-Morrison & Quentin O’Hanlan of Geneva, Switzerland; Lee Saunders-Raynes with her son Duke in Alexandria, VA. There is also her Niece, Chris & Bob Petitt of Sabastapol, CA who would visit every year and her Australian hosted son, Paul Goodard. Special memories of so many fabulous supportive neighbors & friends in San Diego, Lake Havasu, Seattle & here in Whitefish.
Our special appreciation and sincere thanks to the many nurses & caregivers at Logan Infusion & Hospice that helped her/us through this difficult journey. No memorial is planned as her ashes with be spread at a later date by family.
Condolences may be submitted online at www.AustinFH.com