Barbara Ann Waterbury

Obituary, Barbara Ann Waterbury April 15, 1933 ~ October 17, 2006 Barbara Ann McGinnis Waterbury, 73, passed quietly on the morning of October 17, 2006. She was born April 15th, 1933 to Thomas McGinnis and Eva Miller McGinnis in Long Beach, CA, and was followed in birth by her brother Thomas McGinnis. Barbara's life was considerable and adventurous. Growing up, her father's navy officer stations were in West Virginia, Washington, Oregon, and California, and Barbara excelled in academics, dance, music, and theater at each place. Her mother made sure their family explored the country around each place they lived, and Barbara had many stories of escapades growing up. She graduated from Carlsbad High, CA in 1951 with high honors and several scholastic and arts awards. Barbara was offered full scholarships to a New York performing arts college, the Pasadena College of Arts, and Brigham Young University. She attended both Pasadena and BYU. Although she was offered her own TV show if she stayed in the Salt Lake area, after graduating from PSA as "Best All Around Graduate," she wrote and directed in southern CA at the Pasadena Playhouse, the Hale's Center Theater and elsewhere, and later opened her first dance and theater studio. Some of the favorites she worked with during this time were Kerwin Matthews and Harpo Marx. Seriously considering a film career offer in Germany in 1955, the greatest favorite and love of her life John R. Waterbury intercepted, auditioning for a lead in a play she was directing. She gave him the part--for love at first sight. Barbara and John's 1956 marriage was pivotal in Barbara's life; however, the adventures and experiences continued. Both had converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and began their long tenure with the church co-writing and directing church productions in southern CA. Shortly, though, John's 30-plus year merchant marine, Master Mariner career took Barbara all around the world in her adult life, where she followed her husband and raised her family in places like Tehran, Singapore, the Canary Islands, and Scotland. Barbara quickly became known and loved in the places she lived and visited by her exuberance and humor, and her enthusiastic interest in peoples' lives and history. Like her family growing up, Barbara and John took their children on excursions to countries and cities across the globe, making sure to investigate beyond the tourist path. Getting their sailboat caught in a squall of the coast of Malaysia, tracking tiger on elephant back in northern India, and getting robbed in Peru are part of a long list of their adventures with their 3 children. Barbara ran her own English speaking dance, theater, and modeling studios in Tehran and Singapore, and worked on the 60s film production, Diamond 33. One of her young Singapore students went on to co-starring roles in American popular television and film. Barbara also was consistently involved in church, usually as the activities director, which included several more plays and music and dance productions. She influenced many of her private studio and church member "students" and her children in many ways, passing on not only skills in the performing arts but humor, confidence, and fortitude. Barbara and John moved permanently to their long-owned Sailboat Ranch outside of Lakeview, OR in the late 70s, and they were their own designer/engineers, general contractors, and laborers on their dream home, which awed all who visited: spacious, artistic-reflective of their experiences and travels. On the ranch Barbara enjoyed her patio garden, vegetable greenhouse, and expansive landscaping, reading and corresponding, visiting with friends, and waiting for John to come off the mountain with his horse for dinner. Barbara and John would periodically load up the Subaru with their camping gear and travel through other states, sometimes accompanied by their teen grandson. In their retired years Barbara and John enjoyed mentoring and supporting youth and youth programs. Because of diminishing health, in summer 2003 Barbara and John set up a small house in Independence, OR, to be near their doctors and daughters. Barbara's beloved John passed away just shy of their 49th wedding anniversary. While in Independence Barbara's highlights were attending her granddaughters' choir and sports events, being around her family and grandkids frequently, and Sunday visits from church youth who became very special to her. She designed yet another beautiful backyard oasis, where she was able to enjoy her roses. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and her brother. She is survived by her children: son Sean Waterbury, daughters Laurel Cuthbertson and Dale Anna Cossey, five grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Barbara will be missed by all who knew her. Public service will be held at Farnstrom Mortuary in Independence, 10:00 am, October 23rd followed by reception details at service. Barbara will be buried with her husband at Willamette National Cemetery. Cash donations "In Memory of Barbara Waterbury" can be made to Central High School Sports Panther Club, PO Box 84, Ind., OR, 97351, or Central High School's Choir and Theater Program, Central High School, 1530 Monmouth Street, also Ind. "In Memory of John and Barbara Waterbury": Boy Scouts, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 783 Church Street West, Monmouth Oregon, 97361. If flowers are preferred, send to Farnstrom by 9 am on 10/23.