Barbara (Barb) Kinzley Carlin, age 60, went home to be with the Lord in Oak Harbor on Friday, Nov. 18, 2016, after a three-year battle with cancer. She died peacefully surrounded by family and friends.
She was born on June 30, 1956, in Hackensack, N.J., to Harland B. and Ann E. Kinzley. Barb grew up in Glen Rock, N.J., until the family moved to Louisville, Ky., during her early teen years. At 18, Barb moved to the Seattle area and lived with her sister Joan while attending cosmetology school at Renton Technical College. After working as a hairdresser for several years, Barb married and moved to Whidbey Island.
There she managed her husband’s house building business until attending Skagit Valley College and earning a technical arts degree. Barb then went to work for the accounting firm of Mostad &Christensen in Oak Harbor as their web developer and online catalog designer. She was employed there until December 2014.
Barb was an avid animal lover and volunteered at the Whidbey Animals’ Improvement Foundation (WAIF). She designed the WAIF website and fostered many special needs cats and kittens. Barb also enjoyed gardening in her lovely yard in Oak Harbor, crocheting afghans for her beloved family members, taking walks on nearby beaches with her friends, and visiting her father Harland and his wife Myrna in Langley, Wash. She was devoted to her three nieces and one nephew who fondly called her “Aunt B.”
Barb was preceded in death by her mother (1970) and her father (2006). She is survived by her sister Joan E. Hatfield of Newcastle, Wash.; her brother William H. Kinzley of Manila, Philippines; her nieces Katherine Mullens, Laura Katz and Debra Kinzley; her nephew James Day; three grandnieces; and one grandnephew. She also leaves behind her beloved tuxedo cats Manny and Molly. Manny is now living at the WAIF Cat Cottage and Molly is living with Barb’s sister Joan.
A memorial service celebrating Barb’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 8, at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland, where she will rest in the church’s columbarium near her father Harland and his wife Myrna. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to WAIF, www.waifanimals.org
Family and friends are encouraged to share memories and condolences at www.whidbeymemorial.com
