Barbara Ann Skiles

One More Mountain To ClimbBarbara Ann Miller was born January 4, 1942, in Denver, Colorado, to Clarence and Esther Miller. She was considered a war baby with the United States drawn into the Second World War. It was four below the day she was born, so she often joked, that was why she disliked the cold winter months. Barbara was the second daughter born into the Miller family, (her sister Carrie was eight years old when Barbara was born.)Early life on the farmWhen she was six years old Barbara learned to drive the tractor. Little Barbara had to keep the tractor straight in the row and stop it before it ran into an irrigation ditch at the end of the row. This was not an easy task for a child of her size. Barbara had to jump on the clutch with both feet to get the tractor out of gear, and then she had to jump on the brake to stop it. Barbara had many chores including bringing in coal and kindling, as well as bringing in the cows from the pasture when it was milking time. Barbara would also feed chickens, gather eggs, and help out with the vegetable hot beds in spring. During her childhood years, the family always had a dog, her favorite was a shepherd mix they named Mutt. One day, her Uncle brought out a sickly lamb and asked Barbara if she would take care of it. Barbara nursed the baby lamb back to health, and the dog and lamb followed her wherever she went. They were inseparable. The family home was without heat except for the kitchen stove, so the kitchen was the place to be. The stove was used for cooking, warming, and as a place to gather. On cold mornings, the daughters would run out to the warm stove to get dressed. In the summer, as a little girl, Barbara liked to follow her father around barefoot through the water and mud, as he was irrigating crops. Other times, she would build forts when she could find old lumber or crates and fabric. The forts were usually so small she could barely fit into them, but her dog usually found a way to get in. Barbara, as a child, had several close calls. She recalled one such instance where she disobeyed her father, and she rode her tricycle close to the fish hatchery on the family farm and fell in headfirst. Luckily her father was nearby and pulled her out, moss in her hair and all. She was lucky she didn't drown that day! As time went on, the restaurant the family purchased became more and more important to their livelihood as farming became more and more difficult. As a child, Barbara was told she would be allowed to wait tables once she was taller than the tables. Until then, she was allowed to help out behind the counter. A typical summer day would find Barbara and Carrie hoeing a few rows on the farm in the morning. They would go down to the restaurant to help out with the noon rush, and then they went back to the farm to work in the afternoon. There was always work to do on the farm.School yearsBarbara started school at Adams City when she was five years old, so she was always one of the youngest in her class. She walked to school with Carrie about a mile each way, no matter the weather. Barbara enjoyed junior high because of the extra school related activities. She worked in the cafeteria at lunch time, and received $1.25 a week plus lunch. That was the first money she earned. As much as Barbara enjoyed junior high, she loved high school even more. She had a lot of friends from her singing classes and pep club. She held offices in the International Relations Club and the Honor Society. She took a scholarship test her senior year and won her choice of a four-year scholarship to any state sponsored college, or university, or a one-year renewable scholarship to a more prestigious private school. She selected the University of Denver. Because of her excellence in school, Barbara was a valedictorian of her high school class. She delivered a valedictory speech at commencement. In that speech, she included a poem she learned in grade school, "Be the Best of Whatever You Are", that had a lot of meaning to her. She adopted those words and would tell you it was her motto in life. Love Life and FamilyBarbara met Gary in high school and they had several classes together. They didn't hit is off right away, but after a few kind words, a couple of dances, and a kiss, they were on their way. Barbara remembered with clarity the details of her dates with Gary. The Junior-Senior Prom was a special day for her. Barbara said after a fancy dinner, a beautiful corsage, and the dance, it was a dreamy night. She was swept off her feet! After graduation, Barbara attended Denver University on her scholarship while Gary enlisted in the Air Force. They were married August 14, 1960. After Gary's service with the Air Force had ended, they moved with a small U-Haul trailer to Lake Oswego, Oregon, where they soon welcomed the first of three children, Gary II in 1964. After scrimping and saving, they were able to buy their first home, a three-bedroom starter with a big yard in a cul-de-sac. Times were tight, but boy could Barbara stretch a grocery budget! Their second child, a girl named Kiviera, was born in October of 1966. The last child, Beth, was born in March of 1972. In 1973, Gary and Barbara bought five acres of land. After a construction loan was granted they did most of the work themselves to save money, a difficult prospect with both working Monday through Friday. Barbara pounded nails, lifted walls and still managed to make three meals a day in a small camper trailer, which they called home on the weekends. The family moved into their finished home in 1976, and remain there today. In the new home with lots of land, Barbara surrounded herself with many plants and flowers. Taking care of these plants, especially the flowers, made her happy. Barbara established and maintained many traditions on holidays and special occasions that brought her family home, year in and year out, no matter where they were living. Some, like a special Easter sunrise service, was passed down from her great-grandmother, but others she developed with Gary over the years. These traditions will carry on in her honor. Barbara was a caring and generous person, and she supported a long list of charities annually. Her children will remember her as a very strong person, both physically and emotionally. She was always there for her children and grandchildren, even when times were tough, or when she was battling medical issues. In August 1996, she flew to France to help her daughter Kiviera, with her 10-week premature twins. She arrived in Paris the morning they were released from the hospital. WorkWhen Barbara and Gary moved to Oregon, Barbara began working as an insurance underwriter at the Ray Miller Agency and later for the Bonneville General Agency. She then joined the Multnomah County District Attorney's Office, working for 19 years, and holding a variety of positions. She retired as Operations Administrator in the Child Support Enforcement Division. MusicBarbara loved music, singing, and dancing. She recalled hearing her mother's polka music down at the restaurant and at home. Some of her fondest memories of her parents were when they sang together. Her father played the accordion, and her mother played an electric steel guitar. She started piano lessons when she was 10-years-old, and organ lessons a few years later. In high school, she began singing in the choir and was selected during her senior year, to attend All State Choir. This was a week-long event held at the University of Denver. She thought it was thrilling to sing en masse. Another highlight for her was hearing the huge pipe organ in the university's chapel. When she was in high school she played the organ, or sang for commencements, weddings, and other functions. While living in Oregon, Barbara joined two singing groups: The

Tributes

Barbara Ann Skiles

January 4, 1942 - March 8, 2013