Jeannie Barber

Jeannie Barber (née Jean Ann Gilbert, and formerly Jeannie Bula) passed away January 27th, 2024 at her home in Spokane Valley, after a long battle with cancer. She was 73. Born July 14, 1950 and adopted by William and Jean Gilbert of Spokane, Jeannie graduated from Marycliff High School in 1968. An enthusiastic student of the French language, she relished the opportunity to practice her skills during a post-graduation trip to Europe. She briefly attended college, but did not complete her degree until many years later. She often quipped that this was because she “majored in playing Pinochle” with friends. But Jeannie also occasionally added a second anecdote that speaks volumes about that first college experience. On the first day of Logic class, her professor announced that no female student could receive a grade higher than B for the term. “Women,” he announced, “are not logical.” Jeannie married her first husband, Dave Bula, in 1971. As a young couple, the two worked on a forest fire lookout near Truckee, CA, and performed regularly as a folk music duo at a nearby guest ranch. Dave later joined the Navy, which brought the couple first to Memphis, Tennessee, and then back to Washington state for an decade-plus stint in Oak Harbor. Jeannie was a proud “baritone” in the local Whidbey Island chapter of Sweet Adelines women’s barbershop singing organization. The couple returned to Spokane in 1985 with two year old daughter, Kathleen, in tow. Meanwhile, times changed for women in academia and the workplace. Jeannie went back to school in the late 1980s, while her daughter was still a toddler. She eventually graduated from Eastern Washington University with a degree in computer programming. In a tough job market, it turned out to be Jeannie’s excellent customer service skills that were most sought after. This led her to various telephone-based jobs and, eventually, a position with a government agency helping low-income citizens access sustainable housing, work that fulfilled her for the remainder of career. After Jeannie and Dave's marriage ended in 1995, Jeannie married Steve Barber of Coeur D’Alene. She became a devoted mother to his three children, Candice, Kathryn and Charles. Eventually, she was also the proud grandmother to Kathryn’s children Leah and William (the later named after Jeannie’s father), and to Charles’ daughter Kinnis. In the 2000s, Jeannie became involved with stand-up comedy. Initially she was supporting Steve’s budding career, but eventually she also took the stage herself. Her comedy explored themes related to living through treatment for breast cancer, during the early years of her diagnosis. Jeannie was overjoyed when a 2014 change in adoption laws permitted her to find and reconnect with her biological family. She was warmly embraced by biological siblings Lyle, Ken, Larry, John and Diane, as well as their partners. These relationships remained important to her for the rest of her life. In 2021, Jeannie and Steve renewed their vows, in honor of their 25th wedding anniversary. Jeannie is preceded in death by her daughters by marriage, Candice and Kathryn Barber, and her biological brother John Barringer. She is survived by her husband Steve, her son by marriage Charles, her daughter Kathleen, and her grandchildren Leah, William, and Kinnis. She is also survived by her adoptive brother John Gilbert, and her biological siblings Lyle Berger, Ken Barringer, Larry Barringer, Diane Barringer, and Kathi Matthews. Donations in her memory may be made at https://adopteesunited.org/