Barbara Ledbetter

On September 18, 2024, a woman cherished by her family left this earth to join her deeply, missed grandparents, father, mother, sister, brother, and husband. Her story/our heritage: Barbara Ann Ledbetter was born December 19, 1930, to Vinton ‘Pete’ and Shirley Taylor in Muskogee, Oklahoma. Once old enough, she helped the best she could on the family farm. Whether it was chopping wood or hauling buckets of water from the upper 40 or to the lower 40 to feed their animals she did her best to lessen the burdens of her father; the love for her father was immeasurable. She was schooled in Muskogee and eventually, her family moved to Colorado where her father, our grandpa, worked as a miner. Mom told many stories about the Colorado winters. The snow was so deep that she and her sister, Jean, would snow-jump out of her second-story bedroom window, riding the snow until they stopped. One of her most cherished memories was how her grandpa Cudworth would pick her up in a wagon for a trip to the country store. There they would grind some peanut butter eating it on the way home. Peanut butter became her favorite go-to. We’d catch her walking around, licking on a large dollop of peanut butter from her spoon. Eventually, the family moved to Huntsville, Madison Arkansas where she met the Ledbetter family, a huge family with 10 kids, one of which would eventually become her husband, Keith. She had high regard for Keith’s father, John. She always said he’d drop ANYTHING he was doing to help her. It was during that time period that she acquired her horse, Charlie! She was happiest when riding him and needing nothing more than catching up with her friend, Marilyn, to go on a horseback ride and later doing crafty things when able. She was raised through the depression learning to be frugal, grow her own food, and make her own clothes. Through the hard times of that era, mom’s dad and mother sought a new life in Chelan Falls, Washington, finding work in agriculture. At this time Keith had joined the army, becoming a mechanic and was stationed in Germany. After completing his tour he joined Mom in Chelan Falls where they eventually married. After marriage, they invested in a gas station south end of Wenatchee Avenue and 2 near houses. Some years later they sold the gas station, and invested in 10 acres outside of Wenatchee. There they ranched cows, goats, pigs, chickens and rabbits, teaching their children how to live and survive as they had; raising stock, butchering, preserving food and even darning socks. The decision to invest in something new, they gave up the ranching, investing in a cherry orchard and an alfalfa field in the Tarpiscan, south of Malaga. They then planted the Malaga acreage into apple orchards and all investments became quite successful. Malaga became their/our family home for over 55 years. They had 3 boys and 5 girls, Lacey, Leah, Rita, Darryl, Kevin, Carla, Lisa and Beth. She was honored with many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Her life was her kids and her grandchildren. Her love never wavered. The most beautiful, gentlest, kindest, generous, humble, self-sacrificing, unassuming human on this planet! Everything she touched was fragile to her. She handled things with such care like you would hold a baby bird. She would cup with her hand one of her roses from her cherished rose bushes and with a gleam in her eyes talk about how beautiful it was. Anything she delved into; gardening, crafts, sewing, rock-hounding or raising her cockatiels she did it with a passion, all becoming a hobby to her. She was starved for creativity and the adventure of discovering something new. We are so honored to have been born from her. There is no question God embraced her immediately upon her arrival. We will forever grieve her presence as an example of how we should be, to live with passion and that life is fragile. May God set her near to him! She will be buried next to Keith in the Evergreen Cemetery, East Wenatchee. This is a private family Graveside followed by a private family gathering later at her home. Arrangements by Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Barbara Ledbetter

December 19, 1930 - September 18, 2024