Barbara McMahan

Barbara Jean Gronemyer McMahan was born on August 11, 1926 in Sedro Woolley Washington.  Her mother was Irma Maxine Frost Gronemyer, (Later Elias) and her father was Charles Gronemyer.  She had one brother George, who preceded her in death. A few years later, Maxine and Charles divorced, Maxine later married Hans Elias, who was very closely involved in her family's life.  She was often known as Jean to relatives, and Barbara to others. 

Barbara passed away December 14, 2024. The family was quick to note that Barbara was alert, and sharp even in her final year!

She is survived by four daughters, Judy Simkins who lives in Seattle, Betty from Las Vegas, Linda Gale (Richard) of Bellingham, and who assisted her daily in her final years, and Diane Payter (John) of Houston. Linda's husband Richard sadly passed away February 2025, shortly after Barbara's death.

She married Melvin McMahan, later divorced, and spent many years with her common law partner Glen Legoe. He passed away in 2004.

She also is survived by her sister in law, Helen Gronemyer, and niece, Nancy, who live in Albany Oregon. 

Grandchildren, Holly, Heather, Brady, Tony, Ginger, Phillip, Joel and Michelle. 

Great Grandchildren Nathan (sadly passed), Matthew, Caleb, Aidan, Jaxen, Blaire,  Aurora, and William. 

Great Great Grandchildren Eva, and Silas. 

She spent many years as a cook, in several eateries in Bellingham, including the Shrimp Shack, Harbor House, and Arby's. She always enjoyed meeting with the customers. 

She was talented in gardening, sewing,  and crocheting. For many of her later years she wound crochet snowflakes to be given away at Christmas time. She LOVED doing this. She did not need or use a pattern, she would just "know" from experience how to create each one, and they all were different! (as real snowflakes are). She would start the day after Christmas, and by December of the following year, wound have 200-250 to give away. She would send them in Christmas cards to relatives and friends, and also hand them out to employees at her very favorite store, Fred Meyers on Lakeway Drive in Bellingham. Fred Meyers has been an enjoyment, when Glen was alive, they would regularly go there, and visit with other friends at the snack bar. Then after Glen passed away, she would go weekly, her daughter Linda dropping her off on her way to work, then picking her up after work. Barbara would shop, and then stay at the snack bar, visiting with the employees on their breaks, and visit with the other "regulars", as well as any other old friends that happened to stop by to shop. She loved to have coffee and visit with people. 

Sadly when Covid hit, these weekly outings to Fred Meyers ended. But she had many many good memories from her Thursdays at Fred Meyers. 

Her family misses her, her cards, snowflakes, and phone calls, a great deal!!