Barbara Mae Estenson, a long time Lopez resident, passed away peacefully Oct. 2, 2009 after a valiant two year battle with liver disease at Anderson House skilled nursing center in Shoreline, Wash. Barbara was born April 10, 1949 in Salem, Oreg. She graduated from Nathan Hale

High School in Seattle, and did undergraduate study at both Pacific Lutheran University and the University of Washington. She was a true Husky Football fan, through thick and thin, meeting and keeping many lifelong friends at Husky Stadium as a season ticket holder.

She had a very successful career as a corporate executive in a seafood caviar company, Cossack Caviar, Inc., of Seattle, and later, Arlington, Wash. Barbara commuted from Lopez to Arlington for many years, before retiring in 1999 when the company was sold. Barbara was unusual at the time in the seafood industry, being a woman corporate executive in an industry dominated by men.

Barbara’s true glory in life was her loving and caring nature towards others. Self-sacrificing to her seemed second nature when anyone needed anything. If it was doing income taxes for her employees or friends, remembering everyone’s birthdays or anniversaries, taking care of her father-in-law with dementia, or representing her friends who could no longer represent themselves, she never hesitated. A telling statement from Flat Point friends in a get well card to Barbara in part read: “The world needs you!”

She loved Lopez, digging in the dirt in the garden, all things Christmas, dahlias, sea shells, hummingbirds, and Scottish Terriers.

Barbara is survived by her parents, Clarence W. Estenson and Alice Estenson of Lopez, her loving sisters Colleen Biggs and Arletta Mansfield, also of Lopez, and her husband George Simpson, of Lopez and Seattle. Barbara doted on her nieces and nephews and “grand ones” as their children were affectionately called. Her relatives and friends, both younger and older are legion, and were dearly loved by her as well.

Thanks must go to those who helped Barbara in her battle. Thanks to Cathy and all at the Lopez Clinic, Rick and Marge at the Pharmacy, Dr. Allen Horesh and his peers at Island Hospital, Air Care, Lopez EMTs, our local County Sheriff, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bellingham, University of Washington Medicine and Liver Teams, Group Health Hospice and Anderson House. Anyone choosing to make a memorial donation in Barbara’s name could do so to:

Catherine Washburn Memorial Association, Lopez Island Medical Clinic, P.O. Box 309, Lopez Island, WA 98261. A Celebration of Life Salon for Barbara will be announced in the Spring of 2010 when it again is the time to “dig in the dirt in the garden!”