Barbara Dykers Lee (LCDR USN Ret) entered into rest on Saturday, Aug. 12, with her family by her side at Where the Heart Is following a brief illness.

Barbara was born on October 19, 1914, at the family homestead “Herteveld” in Crescent Harbor, on Whidbey Island, to Herbert and Gertrude (Faber) Dykers. She attended Crescent Harbor Grade School and graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1932. Upon her graduation, Barbara went to the Everett General Hospital School of Nursing.

After completing Nursing school, Barbara was employed by the City of Seattle at Firland Sanitorium in Richmond Highlands. Three years later, a Civil Service Appointment as a nurse took her to the Veterans’ Administration facility in Palo Alto, California. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Barbara joined the United States Navy in April of 1942. She was stationed at San Diego, California; Auckland, New Zealand; Bethesda, Maryland; Norfolk, Virginia; Hawaii; San Francisco, California; St. Albans, New York; Camp Lejune, North Carolina; Keflavik, Iceland; and Charleston, South Carolina.

While in the Navy, Barbara graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing Education. Later, while stationed in New York, she received a Master’s of Science degree in Nursing Administration from St. John’s University.

After 25 years in the Navy, Barbara retired on December 1, 1967, as a Lieutenant Commander. The following January, she was employed by the American Nursing Association headquarters in New York as a Special Assistant in Education for the ANA Commission on Education. After two years there, she was hired by the New York Times as an Industrial Nurse. While in New York, she purchased her home near La Conner. New York was fabulous and there was much to do there. However, strong family ties and her love for the beautiful northwest lured her back to the Skagit Valley. On New Year’s Day, 1971, Barbara moved to her beloved home on Pleasant Ridge. During her first three years back in the Valley, Barbara worked for local physicians as a nurse.

Barbara was an active member of many organizations and clubs. She volunteered her time and considerable talents in order to better her community. Her memberships included the First Christian Reformed Church of Mount Vernon, Mount Vernon Republican Women’s Club, La Conner Civic Garden Club, Chuckanut District Garden Club, Patricia Hulbert Guild of Children’s Hospital, and she was on the Northwest Regional Council for Senior Services. Barbara, a master gardener, was a flower show judge for 11 years. She also served as a poll worker for countless elections.

Barbara is survived by her brother, Lawrence Dykers and his wife Doris of Oak Harbor; and her sister, Gertrude Balster of Burlington; nieces and nephews Alice (Don) Sorenson of Burlington WA; Doreen (Ray) Wardenaar of Royal City WA; Lawrence (Joyce) Dykers of Auburn WA; Luther Galbreath (Debra Lahr) of Concrete WA; Obert “Skip” (Shirley) Dykers of Bellingham; Barbara (Ted) Reisner of Anacortes; Kathy Lindbloom of Mount Vernon; Gretchen Dykers of La Conner; and Sigrid (Steve) Barnett of Burlington; as well as numerous great nieces and nephews, countless cousins, and friends.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Hendrik, Herbert, Chapin and Obert Dykers, sister Martha Dykers, and nephew Herbie Dykers.

Viewings will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 16 from 4 – 8 p.m. and Thursday, Aug. 17, from 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. at Kern’s Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held Friday, August 18 at 11 a.m. at the Fircrest Cemetery in Oak Harbor. A memorial service will follow at 2 p.m. at the First Christian Reformed Church in Mount Vernon on Blackburn Road. Memorials are suggested to the Herbie Dykers Memorial Scholarship Fund at Mount Vernon High School, c/o Gay Matthews, ASB, 314 North 9th Street, Mount Vernon, WA 98273, or the La Conner Civic Garden Club, in memory of Barbara D. Lee, c/o Candice Dunn, Treasurer, 17979 Best Road, Mount Vernon, WA 98273.

The family would like to extend a grateful thank you to the employees of Where the Heart Is, the La Conner Retirement Inn, and Skagit Hospice for their loving care of Barbara.