Obituary of Barbara Sherfey

Barbara Ann Sherfey Barbara was born on April 11, 1942 in Panhandle, Texas and passed away on April 16, 2012 in Tacoma. Barbara spent her formative years in Northern California. She married Hari Gandhi and gave birth to their daughter, Tereasa. After Barbara and Hari divorced, she met the love of her life in John Sherfey. They were married more than twenty years until John’s death in 1993. Barbara raised Tereasa and John’s three children, Dorothy, Penny, and John Jr. The family moved to Western Washington in 1976. Barbara was a born again Christian. Faith guided her life and was the source of both strength and comfort as her health deteriorated. She was an involved member of New Life Christian Center and later Prairie Christian Center in Yelm, serving on the Women’s Board and as Sunday School Superintendent. While Barbara had very strong views of how she should live her life, she was highly tolerant of others that chose different paths. Her faith and caring nature caused her to reach out to lend a hand and advocate for people in need. Barbara helped found the Yelm United Citizens Betterment Organization (UCBO), a non-profit organization dedicated to providing economic and social programs to improve the quality of life in the community. She combined her considerable artistic talent with a practical sensibility, transforming ordinary furniture into keepsakes by painting scenes on them Barbara sought to use her artistic ability to help others by obtaining an Associate’s degree in recreational therapy. Her creativity found other outlets. In the kitchen, she was a both a skilled and adventurous cook. Barbara’s curry chicken still draws praise many years later. Her gardens were livened by beautiful flowers. She was an avid reader, writer and vividly detailed storyteller. Barbara was a very social person and developed many lasting friendships in Yelm, where longtime friends characterize her as part of their roots. She never stopped wanting to meet people and found fellowship in the Red Hat Club late in her life after relocating to Tacoma. More than anything, Barbara was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was always there, selflessly nourishing her family when they could not care for themselves, and ever the trusted confidant and friend. The last year of her life was spent doting on her new granddaughter Ainsley.