Barbara Jean Watters

Barbara Jean Watters, a long time Bend, OR resident, went home to the Lord on February 11, 2025 at 101 years of age. She passed peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family. Barbara was born on October 29th, 1923 at her Grandma Lindsey’s house in Klamath Falls, OR. Her family relocated to their grandparents’ dairy farm in Bly, OR after her 18-month-old sister sadly passed away. In Bly, Barbara and her older sister Claudine rode horses to the school yard. Barbara’s family then moved to Lakeview, OR where she lived and attended school through the 8th grade. As a child in Lakeview, the winters were long and cold. Here, she learned how to ski (even ski’d to and from school), did a lot of tap dancing with friends, and played baseball with the boys during the summer. In 1938, the family decided to move to Sweet Home, OR for work and warmer living conditions. Barbara and her siblings loved it. Barbara started her sophomore year at Sweet Home High School and had a good time participating in musicals. It is here where her life began to change forever as she met her sweetheart and the love of her life, Burl “Tuffy” Watters, who was a basketball and football star. She also met a lot of good friends through her youth group at church. In Barbara’s senior year she was President of the “Girl’s Association," the “May Day Princess,” and became “Miss Sweet Home”. As “Miss Sweet Home”, she also represented the school and the town at the Lebanon Strawberry Fair. She graduated in June of 1941 and married Tuff on September 7th of the same year. Shortly thereafter they relocated to Fort Lewis, WA when Tuff joined the Army. They moved from Fort Lewis to Indiana, and on to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. Ultimately, they found themselves back home in Lebanon, OR. This is where they were blessed with their first daughter, Jackie, on Sept 9th, 1945. Later, Barbara and Tuff moved to Portland, OR where she worked for Montgomery Ward while Tuff went to college. Afterward, they again moved back to Lebanon where they welcomed their second daughter, Tami, on January 3rd, 1948. In 1951, they chose to begin a new life in Bend. This is where they celebrated the birth of their 3rd daughter, Patti, on June 23rd, 1952. Barbara and Tuff were active in church and Sunday school at First Baptist Church in downtown Bend. They became owners of the Flavor Freeze (next to Al’s Market and Bob Johnson’s Sporting Goods) which Barbara managed for 3 years. After selling the business, she went to work for Dr. Don Schuman. Along with fabulously raising 3 girls, she worked as an Optician for 20 years. These were two jobs she loved ever so dearly. After Dr. Schuman sold his practice, she moved on to another career working for the Bend La Pine School District for 10 years. Barbara and Tuff were always true to their Christian beliefs. In 1980 they, along with 6 other families, built Eastmont Church from the ground up which was a true honor in their lives. Barbara loved her church family at Eastmont. She continued her deep involvement and service by hosting bible studies, volunteering, and participating in church activities into her late 90’s. This is where Barbara’s devout commitment to her Christian faith remained until her passing. In 1985, Tuff retired from his many years of hard work in the timber industry with DAW Industries. Barbara retired shortly after from her time at Cascade Middle School in 1988. Barbara and Tuff then began living their retirement dream of travel and RV life. They traveled to many amazing destinations in Alaska, Canada, Arizona, Michigan and through many other states they desired to see. Sadly, Barbara and Tuff’s time together ended much too soon when her sweetheart Tuff passed in March of 1998 after a brief battle with cancer. Afterwards, Barbara and her daughter Tami started Tuffy’s Coffee and Company in downtown Bend, honoring her late husband and Tami’s father. They had 8 wonderful years together in the business enjoying the many friendships they made during that time. Barbara lived the rest of her life celebrating many more cherished moments, birthdays, and beautiful holidays with her loving and caring family, dear friends, and her precious church family. If you ever had the pleasure or honor in meeting Barbara (also known to some as Bobbi or Bobbi Jean), you know she never let a moment pass without a gentle hug or maybe even a kiss and a squeeze on the face, assuring you knew how much she loved you, and that Jesus loves you too. Barbara is preceded in death by her parents Pansy and Walter Lindsey along with her 7 siblings and 4 step siblings. She is survived by her children Jackie and Ron Edmondson, Tami Perkins, Patti and Mike Watters-Johnson, her grandchildren Rob and Angie Curtis, Kevin Wyatt, Scott Wyatt, Don and Carolyn Curtis, Kimberly Broomall, Jim and Juli Thurston, Matt and Cathy Edmondson, Jay and Joanie Edmondson, and Chad Edmondson, her 15 great grandchildren along with 8 great-great grandchildren. She was also blessed by many nieces, nephews, previous in-laws, countless dear and close friends, and church family who will miss her loving presence greatly. If you would like to pay respects, there will be a viewing held February 14th, 2025 from 2pm-5pm at Niswonger-Reynolds Funeral Home in Downtown Bend. Additionally, a Celebration of Life will be held April 5th, 2025 @ 11:00 a.m. at Eastmont Church in Bend, Oregon. Address: 62425 Eagle Road Bend, OR 97701. The family will be having a private graveside service in Lebanon, OR where she will be placed next to her beloved husband Tuff. In lieu of flowers the family has requested memorial contributions be made to: Partners In Care: Hospice Services 2075 NE Wyatt Court Bend, OR 97701 541-382-5882 https://www.partnersbend.org/

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Barbara Jean Watters

October 29, 1923 - February 11, 2025