Barbara Ann Burnston was born to John H. Burnston and Charlotte (Mahone) Burnston on Dec. 15, 1934, in Port Townsend, Washington. She passed, peacefully, from this life on Jan. 18, 2022, with family at her side.
Barbara grew up in Quilcene and began her first job there at age 16. She worked at the local telephone company as an operator at the switchboard, connecting people’s phone calls. She continued to work through high school for the phone company, attended business school in Seattle following her high school graduation, and then returned to Quilcene to work again for the phone company. Barbara worked for the phone company as the only Quilcene office employee for many years, through many changes and multiple owners until finally retiring out of the Poulsbo phone company office.
Barbara Burnston became Barbara McClary when she married Henry (Hank) McClary on Aug. 30, 1963. Barbara and Hank lived in Quilcene until they bought the “little house” on the family homestead in Dabob. Except for a short time in Clearwater, Washington, Barb and Hank lived in Dabob, finally moving into the homestead farmhouse in 1987. Barbara and Hank were married until his death on Aug. 5, 2005.
Barbara especially enjoyed cooking for others, flower and vegetable gardening, canning fruits and vegetables, picnicking, watching the birds and deer in her yard, QHS alumni gatherings, old friendships, and being “Auntie” to her nieces and nephews. She will be remembered for her kindness to others, her willingness to help, her generosity, her sense of humor, her smile, and the twinkle in her eyes.
Barbara is survived by her brother and his wife, John and Terrie Burnston of Quilcene; her sisters- and brothers-in-law, Norma and Pete Engelking of Gig Harbor; Judy and Tom McBride of Hoquiam; Judy and Graham Simons of Dabob; her sister, Beth Nelson of Dabob; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Preceding Barbara in death were her husband, both parents and two brothers, Glenn and Ron.
A memorial service will be held in the summer when everyone can be outside.
For anyone desiring to make a memorial contribution in Barbara’s name, please consider Quilcene Volunteer Association (Quilcene Fire Department), P.O. Box 433, Quilcene, WA 98376 or Church of Christ, 230 “A” St., Port Townsend, WA 98368.
