Barbara Clydell Estes Burres

Barbara Clydell Seaman Estes Burres mother, grandmother and collector of milk glass died June 24, 2019, seven days before her 90th birthday. She will be profoundly missed by her family, friends and Grande Ronde Retirement Residence (GRRR) neighbors and staff. A native of New Mexico, her parents were Clyde L. Seaman and H. Blanche Hathaway Seaman.

Barbara was a life-long lover of cats, horses, babies, ice cream, gardening, and later in life, Chips Ahoy. When she was a high school senior, she and her cat, Butch, journeyed from New Mexico to Richland, Washington, to join her father and brother. Waitsburg became her new home when she started her first job after completing beauty school. T. Harvey Estes spotted the petite newcomer at the bowling alley. After a whirlwind courtship, they married in 1950 and together had three children – Patricia, Rebecca and Rodney. She lost Harvey too soon in 1964. As an unwilling single mother in need of a new career to support her family, she became a dental assistant for the local dentist who helped her with the education and training the job required.

Riding bareback like a wild barbarian with her brother, Darlo Jack, at her grandparents farm in New Mexico was where her love of horses began. Later she was an assistant leader and then leader for the 4-H horse club, Saddles and Spurs. In 1973 she married Jim Burres. He died in 2013. She then moved to GRRR in La Grande, Oregon, where her daughter, Rebecca, filled her life with love and comfort. Her cat, Tabor, journeyed with her this time and was her faithful companion for several more years.

Her greatest joy was her family, which includes her children, Stacey Ann (Rod’s wife), Jon (Patricia’s partner in life), Mark and Marge, six grandchildren – Andrea (Parker), Stacey Kay (Pete), Kaitlin (Cody), James,Andrew, and Patrick – and five (soon to be six) great grandchildren. She antiqued like an expert to furnish her large craftsman home where the whole family could gather for holidays. Herding everyone down to Main Street to watch the Days of Real Sport parade was a beloved tradition. An active member of Odako Club until it disbanded, she helped host the annual luncheon fund raiser, sold ice cream at livestock shows, and made life-long friends. Eastern Star taught the shy Barbara to speak in public as she held various offices. She also filled her days by reading to grade school children for a time, gardening and acting as a docent for the Bruce House Museum.

Grave side services will be held at the Waitsburg Cemetery on July 21, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made inBarbara’s name to your favorite charity.