Barbara "Betty" Meriwether

Barbara (Betty) Meriwether died September 2, 2014 at age 81. Barbara was born in Arkansas to parents William Edie and Gertrude (Brown) Edie and spent her early years moving back and forth to the Yakima Valley in WA. She graduated high school in Yakima, WA and soon felt the pull to the big city of Seattle, working as a bank teller. That's where she met a man that towered over her, everyone towered over her, she was tiny but mighty. Barbara met and married John Meriwether in 1955; she had found the love of her life. John introduced her to her second love, the Pacific Ocean. Their lives were made full with the addition of two daughters, Joan and Judy. They lived in Kirkland WA, but would escape to Long Beach with their family as often as possible, for salmon fishing, clam digging, and walking along the cranberry bogs with their girls. Barbara faced the hardest time of her life when John died in 1967 and she was suddenly widowed leaving her with two girls to raise alone. After raising the girls in Kirkland, WA Barbara and the girls moved to the Yakima Valley where in a small country church both her girls found their country boys. Barbara was proceeded in death by her husband John, her parents and two of her sisters, Virginia (Ginger) and Wanda. Still surviving are her brother William Edie Jr and sister Faye Myers. Barbara is also survived by her daughters and their families; Joan (Bryan) Ruby, Judy (David) Porter, Breanna (Guy) Bates, Tyler (Teasha) Porter and Travis (Shasta) Porter as well as five great grandchildren; Micah, Eligh, Cody, Landon and Ashley. Barbara eventually earned her business degree and spent her career years working in law offices and as a church secretary. Never a cheap date, Barbara loved all the finer things in life and was brilliant. She was dignified, spunky, a hugger and always the survivor. Through the years the girl's families and Barbara met at the Pacific Ocean for summer trips and Thanksgivings filled with laughter. Barbara spent her last many years with her daughter and best friend Judy and her husband David in Anaconda, MT. A private memorial is planned at the Pacific Ocean.