Barbara Joan Tarney (nee Green) passed away surrounded by family & friends on Monday, April 21st. She was 91 years old. Barb is survived by her three children, Doug (Lori), Dan (Caroline), and Lona; her granddaughter, Anne; sister Donna Baergen, and brother Craig (Lydia) Green. Barb was predeceased by her parents, Bob and Cora Green, and by her husband Don. She also leaves behind many cousins, nieces, nephews, and good friends.
Barb was born in Northern Alberta on November 16, 1933 on the south shore of Lesser Slave Lake. She was the eldest child of Bob and Cora Green. Barb loved the lake and returned to it every summer throughout her lifetime.
Her mother ran the local post office in Widewater, Alberta, and her dad had a small sawmill. The family raised mink and grew a large garden. No one had much money in those days, but the sense of family and community was strong.
In 1950, Barb was part of the very first graduating class from Kinuso School. She attended university in Edmonton and earned a teaching certificate.
Barb returned north to start her teaching career in a series of one-room school houses along the lakeshore. Her teaching assignments brought her to the town of Slave Lake, where she met her future husband Don Tarney. They were married in 1953. Don was a square dance caller, and the community dances were very popular in that small community.
Don was the principal of the Slave Lake school, and the young couple lived in a teacherage in the school yard. Their first son Doug was born in Edmonton, and Dan arrived in High Prairie two years later. They moved to Duchess in the summer of 1958, and Lona was born in the Brooks Hospital later that year.
The Tarney family enjoyed small-town life in Duchess. Barb and Don both taught school. During summer holidays, family members would gather at the family compound of cabins on Lesser Slave Lake to swim, fish, pick berries, hunt driftwood, and hold fire-side sing songs.
In 1969, the family moved to Brooks and Barb began teaching at the Brooks Junior High School. Don passed away in 1974. By 1977, all the kids had graduated and moved away from home. Barb continued to enjoy curling and golfing, became an Alberta Teachers’ Association representative, and served one term on Town Council. Barb retired from teaching in 1989 and travelled extensively.
Barb moved to Edmonton in 2006 and enjoyed watching her granddaughter Anne grow up. Another move to High River in 2017 brought her closer to daughter Lona and long-time friend, Judy Evans (Scheuerman).
No matter where she lived, Barb was always surrounded by family and friends. She enjoyed family and community events. She made the yearly trek to the family cabin at Lesser Slave Lake up until 2024, at the age of 90.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United Nations Refugee Agency or a charity of your choice.
A Celebration of Barb’s life will be held on Saturday, May 24th at 2:00 p.m. at the Highwood Golf & Country Club in High River.
For those that are unable to attend, the service will be livestreamed at www.lylereeves.com
Caring for the family is Lyle Reeves Funerals of High River (403.652.4242)