Barbara Jean Getz
Olympia, Wash.
Sept. 28, 1921 – Jan. 21, 2017
Barbara Getz, age 95, passed away quietly at Mother Joseph’s Care Center in Olympia, Wash. She was born Barbara Jean Riner on Sept. 28, 1921 in Lebanon, Indiana and was the only child of Gordon and Beulah Riner. When she was eight years old her family moved from the Illinois farm to Kansas City, Missouri where she lived until she moved to Bremerton, Wash. with her first husband. When this marriage ended Barbara went to work at the Bremerton Naval Yard. During this time she started going to a riding academy and did local horse show activities where she met cowboy Jerry Getz, who became the love of her life.
Barbara and Jerry were married in Bremerton on May 17, 1947. In 1948 they moved to a farm in Tarboo Valley at the head of Dabob Bay. They lived there for over 56 years until Jerry’s death in 2004. Together they started Tarboo Valley Quarter Horses. She and Jerry were active for many years in the local 4-H clubs and the Jefferson County Fair. Barbara was an avid gardener and raised both vegetables and flowers. Barbara also enjoyed writing; she wrote stories and articles for local newspapers and periodicals mostly about horse and country related subjects.
In 1949 their daughter Linda Getz Hunter was born. Three years after Barbara gave birth, Jerry’s oldest daughter Patricia (Patti) Getz Hyman, from a previous marriage, gave birth to their first granddaughter, Teri Hyman LaMoureaux. Two more children, Cameron Hyman and Patricia (Tricia) Hyman Leverett were born to Patti before she died in 1966. Teri has two daughters, Gwen Bodner Moody and Kelsey Bodner. Gwen has two sons Garrett and Collin Moody. Tricia has a son, Heath Hancock and a daughter, Aundra Hancock. Aundra has two sons, Bryson and Andrew Hancock. Barbara leaves behind family members and friends who love and will miss her very much.
