Barbara Ann Case
1935 - 2022

On the morning of December 15, 2022, Barbara passed peacefully of natural causes at her place of residence in Fresno, California. She was surrounded in love with her family. Barbara was 87 years old.

Barbara Ann Jackson was born on March 31, 1935 in Mesa, Arizona at the Stork's Nest. She was the first-born child of her parents, Harold Ellsworth Jackson and Carma Melba Thomas Jackson.

Barbara lived her childhood and teenage years in Tucson, Arizona. She had many cousins, aunts, uncles and an adoring grandmother that she spent time. She was a happy child who loved playing with dolls, her dog and riding her bike. At age 5, she gained a wonderful step mother and a new step sister only 12 days younger. Four more sisters followed 9, 10 and 17 and 19 years younger than her. Barbara was a wonderful big sister to all of them. As a teenager, Barbara enjoyed socializing with friends and playing tennis. In High school, she was the Arizona State doubles Champion.! She continued her love of tennis with her three children as she taught them to play.

Barbara met the love of her life, Stuart (Stu) Huntington Case when she was 15 at an Arthur Murray Dance in Tucson, Arizona. They were married in 1956 at St Phillips of the Hills in Tucson, Arizona and moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin where Stu was attending Marquette Medical School. In 1958, they relocated to San Diego after Stu graduated from Medical School. Their La Mesa home was where they raised their family and enjoyed hosting holidays with families and many parties with friends. In 2003, they moved to a beautiful retirement community, La Vida Real in El Cajon. Stu preceded Barbara in death in 2007. They enjoyed 51 years of marriage. In 2016, due to health problems, Barbara relocated to Fresno, CA to be near her daughter, Stephanie.

Barbara lived a full life enjoying many years of travel and golfing with her husband and friends. Wherever they traveled, the golf clubs went with them. Some of her favorite places were Bermuda, Jamaica, Hawaii, Mexico, Europe, New York City, New England, Canada, Alaska, Lake Tahoe, Palm Springs and many more beautiful places. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2006 with their family on a weeklong Mexican Riviera cruise.

Barbara's greatest love and pride was her family. She and Stu had three children in three years! Steve, Stephanie and Rick. She was busy running around after three little ones but cherished holding and kissing her kids, rocking them to sleep as babies, reading to them, helping with homework (sometimes typing high school reports for them), and every night tucked them into bed, prayed with them and rubbed each of their backs to relax them sleep. Barbara was always involved with her kids as a Cub Scout leader, Girl scout leader, Baseball score keeper, PTA member, Room mom, Church Youth Group leader, Chauffeur to many events and too much more to list. She loved her kids beyond measure, taking time to lovingly pack daily lunches, cook wonderful homemade meals where family time at the dinner table was the normal, taught each of them to drive (and gained a few grey hairs), instilled responsibility by assigning chores around the home, such as doing dishes, cleaning the bathroom, making their beds every morning, pulling weeds, mowing the lawn, washing the windows or cars or whatever needed to be done. Barbara was their greatest cheerleader, emotional supporter and advisor. Her unconditional and steadfast love was never ending. She was the best mom!

Her six grandchildren (Rachel, Paul, Rebecca, Nolan, Jeff, Gavin) and two bonus grandchildren (Chanti and Ty) brought even more joy to her life. She loved spending time taking them to the park or zoo, reading to them, doing crafts, going to the beach or sitting in the jacuzzi with them. She continued the tradition of rubbing their backs when she had opportunity to tuck them into bed. She beamed with pride when she spoke of them, and was so proud to see them grow into beautiful women and fine young men. She was blessed to attend all their high school graduations, college graduations and two of her granddaughter's weddings.

Barbara had one great grandson, Miki. She enjoyed many fun times including sleepovers with him. He brought so much joy to her. She loved being a GG. She gained 5 more great grandchildren through marriages of her grandchildren.

Gardening was a great passion for Barbara. She could grow anything, from Orchids to Roses, to any indoor or outdoor plant, she had a true green thumb and would actually talk to her plants. She became the resident rose garden overseer at the retirement community she lived at. Her placed looked out on the beautiful rose garden and Barbara ensured the gardeners fed and pruned them properly. On any given day, she could be found clipping a few roses, arranging them in a vase to take to a resident who was ill. She truly loved bringing joy to others.

Barbara loved animals, allowing her kids to have quite the menagerie including a chameleon that escaped and would surprise her when she was changing her son's Steve's sheets, a few rabbits that also escaped and would make their way to the canyon behind her home, a goose that she bought at Easter thinking it was so cute, until it grew up and bit everyone including the dog and pooped all over the patio. Guinea pigs, hamsters, rabbits, and fish tanks came and went. With each animals' death, Barbara always provided the kids with emotional support when either the fish was given a proper funeral with a flush of the toilet or the guinea pig, hamster or rabbit needed a proper burial in the backyard. Willy the cat gave her 9 years of purring. Her favorite pet was the family dog Tina. Despite Tina's need to escape and run down to the elementary school to be with the kids, long runs around the neighborhood, Barbara always went to retrieve the dog because the family loved her so much.

Volunteering was a gift Barbara gave to her community She spent countless hours and was involved in many organizations as either President, an officer or a board member. To name a few: Episcopal Women's Services, Youth for Christ, Life house (A home for unwed teenage girls), Rachel's House, (shelter for Battered women), ministering to young girls at Juvenile Hall, St Dunstan's Church Youth (even after her children were grown) and too many others to list. Barbara was always assisting the activity director a La Vida Real planning the fun outings and activities. She gave of her time with grace and love, a true servant of the Lord.

Barbara is survived by her three children and their spouses Steve Case and, wife Gayle, Stephanie Lambrecht and husband Roger, Rick Case and wife, Trish, her grandchildren: Rachel Cooper and husband, Beau, Paul Case and husband, Jack, Rebecca Marquez and husband Kenny, Nolan Case, Jeff Case, Gavin Case and wife, Nancy., and bonus granddaughter Chanti and husband, Dan Waters. She is survived by her 1 great grandson, Miki Kennett and 5 bonus great grandchildren Isaac, Tyler, Loralee Satori and Kenna, her sisters, Marilyn, Judi, Georgia, Janet and Susie, nieces Michele, (who was considered a fourth child to Barbara), Fran, Debora, Acacia, and Samantha, nephew Chris, and many great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death of her husband, and parents and bonus grandson Ty.

A heartfelt thank you to the loving and caring staff, especially Brenda, Nicole, Gloria, Summer and Dylan at Summerfield of Fresno, California.

Earth lost a true angel as Heaven gained another, Barbara Ann Case. Psalm 91:4 He will cover you with his wings, you will be safe in his care, his faithfulness will protect and defend you.

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