Barbara Jean Metzger

Barbara Jean David Hearing Metzger, formerly of Corvallis and most recently of the Mennonite Village in Albany, passed away December 15 at the Mennonite Home. Barbara was born to Harold and Delora (Hughson) David in Klamath Falls, Oregon. She and her mother moved to Corvallis in Barbara’s early childhood, following her parents’ divorce. Delora married Ernest Hearing in 1937 and Ernest adopted Barbara. Except for a brief period in Portland and the Coast Range area around Five Rivers during her early teen years, Barbara spent her youth in Corvallis. She was a proud member of the Corvallis High School Class of 1950 and maintained lifelong friendships with several of her classmates. Barbara graduated from Oregon State College in 1954 with a degree in Business Education. She was a member of Kappa Delta sorority. Barbara married Robert J. Metzger on April 28, 1956 in the First Methodist Church in Corvallis. Barbara worked part-time or full-time for most of her adult life, always in occupations related to the legal field. She retired from the Weatherford Thompson Albany law firm, where she had worked as a legal secretary. She continued to work as a freelance legal secretary, substituting in several Corvallis and Albany-area law firms until 2008. Barbara was highly regarded for her ability to step into an office and provide quality secretarial service. Family was central to Barbara’s life. She provided loving care to her mother and to her Aunt Margaret. Her children were truly her pride and joy. She devoted many hours to assisting with their childhood activities. She was a constant source of support and encouragement. Although divorced from her husband of 34 years, Barbara considered it essential to maintain a loving family. She and Bob remained friends and enjoyed times together with their children and grandchildren. Barbara played a major role in Bob’s care in his final days and was a rock of support to her children during that time. Barbara was an active member of the Corvallis community. Over the years, she participated in OSU Folk Club, Kappa Delta alums, and Children’s Farm Home activities, provided leadership for the Corvallis Community Calendar and the CHS Class of 1950 reunions, and served on the board for Adult Lifelong Learning. She had just begun tenure on the Mennonite Village Foundation Board when poor health forced her to resign. She was a devoted member of the Corvallis First United Methodist Church. Barbara moved to the Mennonite Village in Albany in 2002. She became an active volunteer in the Village, and enjoyed travel and concert attendance through Village programs. Symptoms of Parkinsons Disease began to slow her down in 2010. Barbara moved to Quail Run Assisted-Living at the Village in July, 2011 and to the Mennonite Home in October, 2013. Barbara is survived by daughter, Debra Lee, son-in-law Michael Lee and grandsons Matthew and Christopher Lee, all of Ames, Iowa, and son David Metzger, daughter-in-law Laura Metzger and grandsons Eric and Jeffrey Metzger of Salem, Oregon. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents and by her former husband, Robert Metzger. Debbie and David wish to thank the many friends, extended family, Mennonite Village and Samaritan Evergreen Hospice personnel who provided an amazingly strong network of support for Barbara to the very end. A memorial gathering will take place from 9:00 am to Noon on Saturday, March 8th at McHenry Funeral Home in Corvallis. Memorial contributions may be made to the Corvallis Public Schools Foundation, 1555 SW 35th St., Corvallis, OR 97333.

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Barbara Jean Metzger

December 29, 1931 - December 15, 2013