Berniece Gwendolyn Barrows age 89, died Monday, August 23, 2010 at Legacy Hopewell House Hospice in Portland, OR. A private graveside service will be held on Wednesday, September 1st followed by a Celebration of Life service at 12:30 p.m. at Mt. Hood Christian Center, 2500 SE Palmblad Road, Gresham, Oregon.
Berniece was born May 30, 1921 in Billings, Montana to William and Pearl Hutchins. Berniece’s mother died when she was only 5 years old and her father moved her and her 5 older brothers to Centralia, Washington. Berniece attended and graduated from Centralia High School. While attending Centralia High School she met her husband, John Barrows. They were married on May 30, 1940 and celebrated 69 years of marriage. Berniece worked for her father as a bookkeeper and then during World War II, she worked in the Navy shipyards stamping bombs contributing to the war effort.
In the mid 1950’s Berniece and John moved to Portland where she was a homemaker and full time mother. After her children were grown, she went back to work at Rhodes Bakery, later working for Fred Meyer Stores where she was the bakery manager. After retiring they moved to Sandy, OR and then to their final home in Fairview, OR.
Berniece enjoyed needlework, board puzzles and crossword puzzles. She could do the New York Times Sunday puzzle using an ink pen and she rarely made an error. Berniece loved her home and spending time with family and friends. She never met a stranger. Visitors to her home were always welcomed by fresh baked cookies, candy and a hot cup of coffee.
She is preceded in death by her husband John E. Barrows; son, Gregory William; brothers Chet, Harmon, Cliff, Howard and Selmer Hutchins.
Survivors include her daughter, Ginger Pulicella of Monmouth; son, John R. Barrows of Gresham; sisters, Yvone Morgan of Port Orchard, WA; Sylvia Sandvig of Belfair, WA and Shirley Shdo of Snohomish, WA; five grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to:
Legacy Hopewell House Hospice
6171 SW Capitol Highway
Portland, OR 97239