Obituary of Barbara Barfoot
BARFOOT, Barbara McLaughlan peacefully with family by her side at Wiarton Hospital on Friday, April 4, 2025. Barbara Barfoot (nee Green) of Clavering in her 86th year. Beloved wife of the late Ken Barfoot for almost 64 years. Cherished mother of Shelley O'Neill (Brian) of Kleinburg and the late Kenneth Shawn Barfoot. Much loved grandmother of Adam (Liz) and Shea (Emma) and great grandmother of Riley, Hunter, Grayson, Griffyn, Levi, Nelson and Noah.
Dear sister-in-law of Ileen Green, Joyce Inglis, Sheila Schultz and Linda Barfoot (John). She will be forever remembered by Doug Schultz (Elaine), Anna Ervin (Scott) and family, Zac Goodacre (Brookelyn) and family, the Kapteyn family, Samantha Beamish (Alex) and family and Hunter and Hayden Maisonneuve as well as the entire 4-H and agriculture community. Missed by many nieces and nephews.
Predeceased by parents Sarah (nee Murray) and Joseph Green, brothers Doug (Faye), Jim, Morrison, Bob (Ayleen), Marilyn Dobson (Ben), Don and infant sister Emma and brothers-in-law Larry Barfoot and Carl Schultz,
Family and friends are invited to share memories at the DOWNS AND SON FUNERAL HOME, Hepworth on Wednesday, April 16th from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The funeral will be conducted from the Shallow Lake United Church on Thursday, April 17th at 11:00 a.m. Spring interment Bayview Cemetery, Wiarton. Expressions of remembrance to Grey County 4-H, Wiarton Hospital c/o Bruce Peninsula Hospitals Foundation or the Shallow Lake United Church would be appreciated. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family through www.downsandsonfuneralhome.com
The second youngest of 8 children. The Green family lived beside the Beaver River in Heathcote, and were often seen swimming in the summer and skating in the winter. Barbara was very involved in the Church, community and especially sports. She attended elementary school in Heathcote and Secondary School in Thornbury. She loved playing ball and was on the rep team for 11 years, pitching for 10 and catching for her last year. Her and her friend Doreen did everything together and loved attending community dances. The Green home was the hub of the community, and the kitchen was always full of people. Barbara was very involved in 4-H Lifeskills clubs and the local Jr. Farmers Club. When she was in Grade 12, she was approached to teach at a 1 room schoolhouse in Northern Grey County following graduation. She accepted a position at A Line School In Jackson. She roomed with Mary and Hubert Hewitson and their son Dennis was one of her students. She always laughed that the older students towered over her. Mary and Hubert insisted Barbara attend a local ball game to watch their nephew “Little Kenny Barfoot” play ball. Barbara was reluctant to go and watch a bunch of little kids play when she had papers to grade but eventually decided to attend. Boy, was she surprised when “Little Kenny” was a year older than her and had the bluest eyes she had ever seen. After Teaching at A Line she attended Teachers College in Stratford, then started teaching in Park Head. When the one room schools amalgamated, she transferred to Amabel Hepworth where she taught until 1996, for 39 years, mainly teaching grades 4 and 5, along with creative writing and art, Barb was known for her compassion and understanding. She often had many children in her class that had some challenges and had that special ability to help those students succeed. She has remained close to many of those students. Along with her love of teaching her passions for agriculture and 4-H were legendary. She was on the task force for the Ontario Teachers Association to bring Agriculture in the classroom and often incorporated Agriculture into her class curriculum. Many of her students joined her 4-H Lifeskills clubs. Barbara was President of the Grey County 4-H Association along with being a 4-H Leader for over 35 years. She was awarded the prestigious 4-H Ontario Arbor Award in 2003. She was actively involved in her community, The Clavering UCW, Clavering Women’s Institute, Wiarton Agricultural Society and The Clavering Baseball Booth benefited from her time and passion. Barb and Ken had successful Holstein Farm and when she retired, and the cows were sold in 1996. They travelled together to watch their cattle show and 4-H members at many shows in Ontario and into the states. Ken and Barb then joined the Hepworth-Shallow Rotary Club and were very involved, with both receiving the Paul Harris Service Award for their dedication to the club and community.
Family was everything to Barb and Ken, they were blessed with a daughter Shelley in 1963 and a son Shawn in 1964. Unfortunately, Shawn passed at just a few days old. They supported Shelley in her passion for agriculture, 4-H and showing cattle, and cheered her on at her many shows. They welcomed Brian into the family and treated him like a son. Shelley and Brian had 2 sons Adam and Shea who spent every spare minute with Grandpa and Grandma, they were so proud of the boys and told everyone who would listen about them. Adam and his wife Liz blessed Ken and Barb with 7 great grandsons, their hearts were so full, and they lived for the visits and phone calls and facetimes from the boys. They were so excited to watch them show at the Grey County Showdown and their achievement days. Barb’s heart was huge, and she loved her extended family dearly. Doug, Anna, Annika, Tony, Ian, Mark, Scott, Mike, Zac, Samantha, Amanda, Joseph, Joanna, Kara, Hunter and Hayden, and so many others including the members of the Wiarton 4-H Clubs, were her adopted children and grandchildren, and she followed their activities and enjoyed their visits and phone calls. She was so proud of all her nieces and nephews and their families.
Barbara’s life was not easy, she had serious health issues her entire life, but nothing stopped her, she persevered and let nothing stop her from living her life to the fullest. She loved life, her family, the farm. Her dogs, Buddy and Kooper and Grand dog Kody were such a joy to her. She rarely missed watching the Maple Leafs, Blue Jays and curling on TV, she was a Green and of course had to be an avid sports fan.
Barbara passed peacefully on April 4th, surrounded by her family, on her beloved Ken’s birthday.
The family wishes to extend a huge thank you to The Wiarton Hospital for their kindness and compassion, especially Dr. David Diodati, Jenna Mast, Brookelyn Gilbert and Stacy Charlton. The VON, Bruce Peninsula Hospice, including Lucy and Jean. Diane and Dwayne Lobban, Nancy and Mary Butchart for getting Barb to her appointments and checking in on her. Along with the countless friends, neighbours and family who have been there for her since Ken’s passing in September.