Barbara Jean Snow Thackeray

Barbara Jean Snow Thackeray, a longtime resident of Etna, CA, passed away December 3, 2016 peacefully in her home in the arms of her loving husband George and daughter Susan. She was 89 years old. Born February 6, 1927, Barbara was a graduate of Deweyville High School. After high school, she went on to Utah State University to attain a degree in Education. While there she participated in marching band as a drum major. After graduation, Barbara became employed by Morgan High School where she taught PE and English. During this time, she met her adoring husband George Thackeray. It was love at first sight and they were married June 16, 1954, in the Logan Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The couple resided in Morgan, Utah and had three children before moving to Etna where they had four more children. Barbara had a strong love for music and made sure each of her children learned at least one musical instrument and participated in the school band. She, herself, learned and enjoyed playing the ukulele as a youth. For many years, Barbara was an active participant in the church choir, most of those years as the choir director. She was blessed with a beautiful singing voice and favored the church congregation many times with vocal solos. It was because of her experience and love of music, that it was never a surprise that she dreamed of one day singing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. One could find Barbara busy in the home sewing, painting, quilting, gardening, canning, and baking bread. She loved her family. On many occasions her children would come home from school and find her in the kitchen slicing freshly baked bread. She spent many hours at the school watching her children compete in sporting events. Barbara loved serving at her church as Stake Young Women’s president, Relief Society president, seminary teacher, Primary children’s chorister, and Ward music leader. She also enjoyed serving in the community as a member of the Siskiyou County Republican Women organization and working at the Etna school district as a substitute teacher. Later in life, Barbara found joy in crocheting afghans and quilting blankets as gifts for family and friends. As the children married, the favored wedding gift was one of her quilts and each of the grandchildren stayed warm wrapped in an afghan crocheted especially for them. One of Barbara’s favorite loves was crocheting American flags, one of which was sold to the highest bidder at the Siskiyou County Fair rally. Barbara is survived by her adoring husband of 62 years, George Thackeray, six children and their spouses: Greg and Christine Thackeray, Zane and Cathy Thackeray, Nancy and Jim Hallmark, Anne Ratliff, Linda Thackeray, and Susan Thackeray; 14 grandchildren and their spouses, and eight great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her daughter Yolanda Rowell, grandson Thomas, parents Orion and Lettie Snow, and four siblings Woody, Ruth, Dewey, and Don. She will forever be missed. Family and friends are invited to celebrate her life at services Friday, December 9, 11:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Etna with burial to follow in the Etna Cemetery.

Barbara Jean Snow Thackeray

February 6, 1927 - December 3, 2016