Obituary of Jacqueline May Barbee Hinchcliffe

Jacqueline Barbee Hinchcliffe May 14, 1929 - August 30, 2021 Jacqueline “Jackie” Barbee was born in Casper, Wyoming to William E. Barbee and S. Elnora (Husky) Barbee. Her younger brother, Ted, was born there in 1936. The family later moved to the Willamette Valley (Springfield and Santa Clara near Eugene, Oregon) where her father worked as an oil company representative supplying local farming co-op granges. The family also established a truck farm and cherry orchard and sold produce. As a teen, Jackie spent many hours weeding and picking, later saying that if everyone had this experience they would appreciate their education more. Jackie attended the University of Oregon as a Music major and while there she met and married John “Jack” A. Miller III. They had two daughters: Susan Elaine and Patricia Anne. Jackie enjoyed leading and singing in her church choir, exploring new recipes, sewing (including mother-daughter outfits), family boating and camping in the San Juans, and downhill skiing. She taught piano in the home until completing her Bachelors degree, after which she taught at L.P. Brown Elementary. Jackie later earned her Masters’ degree from Pacific Lutheran University and became a Reading Specialist, serving multiple schools in the Olympia School District until her retirement in 1991. After her divorce in 1970, Jackie met and married her soul mate, Richard “Dick” Hinchcliffe in 1975. They enjoyed many shared activities which included dancing, boating throughout the Puget Sound, gardening, going to plays and musical events, travel, and active membership in the St. Andrews Methodist Church. As “life-long learners” Jackie and Dick participated in over a dozen Elderhostel (aka Road Scholar) programs throughout the US and internationally. Jackie relished time spent with the members of her expanding family. In addition to daughters Suzanne Dhyana Iris and Patti Miller-Crowley (husband Cal), she gained three “bonus” daughters through Dick: Adelle Hinchcliffe (deceased), Dorothy Franklin (husband John) and Nancy Schauer (husband Rod). She had a total of eight grandchildren: Emily Iris (husband David), Arial Iris (wife Sarita),Sheela Iris (partner Steve); Jonah Crowley, Amy Crowley, Amy (Franklin) Navarro (husband Kevin), Roger Franklin (wife Kylie), Carson Schauer; and five great grandchildren: Nathan, Ethan, Raewyn, Maddux, and Audrey. In 2007, Jackie and Dick moved to Colonial Inn. There they made new friends and continued enjoying activities together such as movie nights, live music performances, and wii-bowling. At age 84, dementia became apparent and balance issues worsened but she was able to remain at home with Dick for another 3 years thanks to the support of her caregivers. During this time, as her primary caregiver, granddaughter Amy C.--a horse lover--learned that Jackie’s childhood dream had been to be a cowgirl. In November of 2017, after multiple falls, Jackie moved into Canna Court Adult Family Home, where Dick continued to visit her faithfully each week until COVID restrictions intervened. He died at home June 19, 2020. Although the dementia decline continued relentlessly, daughter Patti felt lucky that Jackie often displayed her gentle smile and recognized her up until the end. A call out and thanks are due to the many caregivers who took such good care of Jackie during the last 10 years of her life: Angelina, Amy C., Martha, Caroline, Sarah, other friends of Amy C., South Sound Care Connection, Jo, Helen, Dorothy, Pinky, and Jonas. A memorial and/or graveside service will be held at a future date yet to be determined.