Obituary of Barbara Ann ShumateThunberg Rodman

Barbara Ann Shumate Thunberg Rodman Barbara did not do anything just because it was expected or what others would do. She was her own person: strong and independent, a woman of integrity, intelligent, welcomed challenge and was not afraid to try things. She just handled things. She loved her family, extended family and friends. We remember about Mom … sitting together making ornaments from festive paper for our Christmas tree and melting new wax, old candles and some of our crayons to make special candles. Her petite body did not stop her from confronting anyone who threatened her kids. She put together little theme parties for our birthdays and let us select the menu for our special dinner. She drew house plans for fun. She worked with the architect on our family home in Yakima and on the homes that she and Teri had built later. We grew up counting the pops as the mason jars sealed with the fruits and vegetables that Mom canned. I remember two times that she very professionally recovered our living room furniture. She and Teri assembled furniture, split wood for the wood stove and generally were a terrific team in the homes they shared. Mark found in his late teens that not only was she a great mother, but became a great friend. She was a confident and advisor who allowed Mark to find his own way. For her 50th birthday, Mark, Linda and the kids took her to a big water park for the day. She tackled the largest slide first and after that, it was a race between her and Mark to see how many times they could go down the slide and how fast they could go. For her 55th birthday, she and Teri went white water rafting. She also talked Teri into going up with her in a hot air balloon – what a view – and into riding those roller coaster rides at Disneyland, generally sitting at or near the front. She loved the outdoors. There were many family camping and fishing trips. She kept herself physically fit with snow skiing, tennis, swimming and even gardening. She took us swimming together in Capitol Lake when we were kids. We hiked on our family rock hounding trips around the Pacific Northwest. Barbara’s Shumate grandparents came to Olympia from Virginia to help establish the Brethren Church here in 1907. Grandpa Silas Shumate and the Shumate boys, who included Barb’s Dad, Bob, his 2 other brothers, Roy & Jim, and one brother-in-law, Bill Bolender, ran a truck transport business for the logging industry. During her early childhood, Barbara, her sister and her cousins lived together with their parents in logging camps. The women kept vegetable gardens, washed clothes in the streams and cooked together. They lived in the first mobile homes! In 1935, Barb’s Dad built the home they lived in when they weren’t in the logging camps. Barb and her sisters, and several friends, grew up in that home. In the late 1940’s, Grandpa Shumate and Sons opened a farm equipment and truck business in what is now the U-Haul building on Martin Way. Mom’s parents were Robert Nathaniel Shumate (Bob) and Erma Kathryn (Baker) Shumate. They had a beautiful, loving marriage, raised 3 daughters – Barb is the oldest, followed by Marjorie and then Marilyn. Strong Christians, loving and caring people. You just couldn’t find better people than they were. Mom graduated from Olympia High School at the age of 16 in 1949. She and our Dad were together for 20 years after their 1950 wedding. She went back to college after her kids were older and became a bookkeeper. She worked 17 years as a financial supervisor for DSHS. Mom rode down to California with a truck driver friend to meet Teri for the camping, vacation trip to move Teri back to Yakima from San Diego. Her small size was perfect for the very little space remaining in Teri’s compact car. We camped, walked trails through the Redwoods, tasted wine as various wineries, saw as many sights as we could and explored the Oregon Caves before running out time to get back to Yakima for a big July 4th party. We had wonderful vacations together, enjoyed the same things – San Diego, Hawaii, Mexico, Canada, Florida and more. My Mom, My Best Friend. The lights of her life (after Teri and Mark) were her grandchildren, Mark and Linda’s kids, Chad and Kristin. She loved the family celebrations or just get-togethers. Then there are the beloved animals. Our Brittany, Cookie, was a constant companion for us all from rides in the car to going camping with us to sleeping on the couch when no one was looking. Mom had lots of cats when she lived in the country, including 2 Siamese named #1 and #2. Mom was a “numbers person”. Her mother fed feral cats on the back porch. Mom made warm beds for them and captured all that she could to take them to be neutered. Our own 3 kitties were all rescues. She loved her babies – Charlie Baby, Princess Dannie and her special boy, Mr. Toby Tobes. The neighborhood cats all knew where to come for a scratch and a pat, a handout and even a day of lounging in our house until their people came home. Barb was a reader – mysteries and science fiction to lots of nonfiction directed at health and well-being. Mark and I would bring home comics from friends that we all sat and read together. We watched what we thought were scary shows. Over the last 20 years, we’ve shared our enjoyment of the performing arts – music, dancing, Cirque du Soleil. She was the organizer for our homes and her Mom’s home, sorting, finding the right places for things, keeping our homes neat with everything in its place. Mom established budgets with us kids at an early age, took me grocery shopping for my wedding gift and helped me to establish budget guidelines to prepare me go out on my own. Mom taught me about nutrition and to eat vegetables without butter. Barb loved a bargain. We shopped for sales and thoroughly enjoyed our “treasure hunting” at thrift stores and bazaars. Jigsaw puzzles were the main target for those trips. There was often a table up with puzzle pieces, a joy she shared with her sisters. On the bright morning of December 26, 2007, with the sunshine sparkling on the snow, our beautiful Mom was released from Alzheimer’s Disease. At her side were her two children, daughter, Teri Thunberg, son, Mark Thunberg and daughter-in-law, Linda Thunberg. Barbara was born in Olympia on August 22, 1932, to Bob and Erma Shumate. She was eldest of 3 daughters. Mom lived and worked in Yakima for about 30 years. Barb and Teri built and lived together in 2 different homes over the last 23 years. They lived in Tumwater these last 6 years, Bothell the preceding 14 years. Mom is survived by loving family and friends including sisters Marjorie Leicht (Roy) of Olympia, Marilyn Perkins (Dick Arnold) of Federal Way; daughter Teri Thunberg of Tumwater; son & daughter-in-law, Mark and Linda Thunberg of Kent; grandchildren Chad Thunberg (Brianna) of Snohomish, Kristin Thunberg of Kent; great-grandchild, Lilianna Thunberg; dear friends Lois Gloyd (Stew) of Olympia and Ruby Bailey (Ron) of Shelton and many cousins, nieces and nephews and so many good friends. She was preceded in death by her parents. We love you, Mom. Memorial contributions may be made in Barbara's name to the suggested organizations below: Feline Friends PO Box 27 Shelton, WA 98584 360-866-0599 www.feline.friends.net Best Friends Animal Society 5001 Angel Canyon Rd. Kanab, UT 84741-5000 www.bestfriends.org Alzheimer's Association National Office 255 N. Michigan Ave. Floor 17 Chicago, IL 60601 www.alz.org South Sound Alzheimer's Council 3430 Pacific Ave. SE #A-6 Olympia, WA 98506 www.southsoundalsheimerscouncil.org Senior Services of South Sound 222 Columbus Street NW Olympia, WA 98501 Providence SoundHomeCare & Hospice PO Box 5008 Lacey, WA 98509