Mae ‘Pogo’ Barie

Mae “Pogo” Barie, 83, passed away peacefully in her sleep at her home in Palm Desert, Calif., on March 6, 2016.

Pogo spent her childhood in Lineville, Ala., enjoying the activities of her large family and many friends.

Pogo received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Mae received her nickname “Pogo” in college, after the popular comic strip character created by Walt Kelly.

In her early career, she was an efficiency expert with the Remington Rand Corporation and traveled around the country on special projects.

She married Lt. Arthur Harper Barie, USN, in 1956, and they moved to his duty station at Naval Air Station (NAS) Olathe, Kan. Her career now paralleled his, since in those days a Naval officer’s wife had responsibilities and expectations as part of his rank and assignment.

While at Olathe, daughters Clary and Viki were born. On Viki’s first birthday, Pogo was traveling with the toddler to Sicily — Art’s new duty station. It was a long, multi-stop journey halfway across the world. At NAS Sigonella, Pogo experienced a completely new culture, new foods, shortage of basic material goods and many wonderful new friends. While at Sigonella, they also had daughter Tania.

A year or so in Cambridge, Mass., while Art was at Harvard, introduced Pogo to “Yankeeland,” which was not as bad as she had feared.

The next duty station was NAS Oceana, where Pogo made a home in Virginia Beach, Va. It was a pretty intense time, including Art’s tour in Vietnam, which meant that Pogo had to support the wives and families of missing and killed men as part of her squadron and A-6 community role. Right before Art shipped out to Vietnam, they welcomed their son Arthur Harper Barie Jr.

Pogo’s next home port was Alexandria, Va., while Art was assigned to the Pentagon. These were the tumultuous times of anti-war riots, Watergate hearings and Nixon’s China trip. But family memories are mostly about the weekend trips to the various Smithsonian museums on the Mall, touring Embassy Row and the White House, and all the cultural activities we experienced.

From Washington, D.C., to Washington state: for Art’s next assignment, Pogo made her home in the Commanding Officer’s Quarters at NAS Whidbey Island. When Art’s duty assignment changed, the family moved next door to the Chief of Staff’s Quarters! Pogo’s role changed as well, and she began to sink deep roots into Whidbey Island.

After Art retired, they moved to a private home in Oak Harbor. Pogo and Art lived in this home for the next 27 years, being blessed with the best neighbors ever, Mel and Dee Elvebak. Tennis and gardening and volunteering and traveling filled their days. Pogo swam every day and did her water aerobics. Wonderful parties, hoe-downs, picnics, barn dances and dinners with dozens of friends filled their social calendar. Ever the organizer, Pogo was always active with charities on Whidbey Island, particularly United Way, Help House, NAS Hospital, American Cancer Society and Island County Museum.

Truly, however, Pogo’s happiest days were those spent walking on West Beach, looking for agates, enjoying the spectacular scenery of the Olympic Mountains and San Juan Islands, and being with her best friend, Art.

Pogo traveled all over the world — with Art, on her own and with friends — and really enjoyed being on the road. One of her favorite trips was a long cruise through the Panama Canal. Some of her favorite places were New Zealand; Kelowna, B.C.; Majorca and Minorca; Rio de Janerio; Kyoto; and Hong Kong.

Pogo’s interests were mostly history related: reading biographies and United States histories, visiting places she had read about, and particularly anything to do with the White House, presidents and founding fathers, and first ladies.

Pogo and Art moved permanently to Palm Desert in 2004 to be closer to their children. Pogo continued with her daily water aerobics, some tennis, volunteering at the Southwest Thrift Store and plenty of social activities.

Pogo was preceded in death by her parents David Ramon and Ada New Humphries; husband Capt. Arthur H. Barie (USN, Ret.); brothers David and Bill Humphries; sisters Dorothy Ringgold and Joyce Blanton; and daughter Clary.

She is survived by her children; granddaughter Jamie (Jed VanDen Bosch); three great-grandchildren; dearly loved sisters Frances Sudderth, Margaret Bell, Jody Speer and Reba Barnes; sister-in-law Mildred Barie; dozens of nieces and nephews and cousins; and friends all over the country.

Remembrances may be made to Island County Museum at 908 NW Alexander St. PO BOX 305 Coupeville, WA 98239. 360-678-3310 or http://wp.islandhistory.org/

A private inurnment will be in Midway Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Powder Springs, Ga. Memorial services are pending.