Jacqueline June "Jackie" Cobern

Jacqueline June Barney
Born May 21, 1928, Hillsboro, Oregon
Died April 20, 2017, Kennewick, Washington

Jacqueline June Barney Cobern, the daughter of James Walter Barney, and Ella Cochran Barney, was born May 21, 1928 in Hillsboro, Oregon. Her sister Barbara Barney was born in 1931.

Jackie is the great-granddaughter and granddaughter of Oregon pioneers. Her father's family homesteaded at Steins Pillar, had a saw mill in Prineville, and eventually lived on a ten acre orchard in Hood River. Both sides of her mother's family, had homesteads near Prairie City. Ella was raised on the Cochran ranch where her father raised thoroughbred horses and had an unobstructed view of Strawberry Mountain.

To survive, Jackie's grandparents had to exhibit great courage, work very hard to provide for themselves, and rely on their deep faith in God. Stories are told of Homer Barney delivering all 12 of his children, sewing up gashing head wounds, reviving the fire in the wood stove each morning while singing Christian hymns while his wife Lee Stevens Barney made biscuits and gravy for their large family and ranch hands. The legacy of their strength and faith in God is what they gave their children. It is this legacy that was part of Jackie's life.

Jackie flourished in the small community of Hillsboro where she developed her musical talent on the piano, danced ballet, was a Camp Fire Girl, and a Rainbow Girl. She often talked affectionately about playing the piano in dance bands during her High School years, and was proud of the fact that she also was a regular, featured performer on a Portland radio station.

Jackie went on to major in music at Pacific University where she studied piano with Mr. Williston. Pacific University is where she met George Edward Cobern Jr., a West Virginia guy who was a student in optometry. They were married September 5, 1948.

Jackie was 21, and still a student at Pacific University, when her first child was born. She was 27 when child number 5 came along.

Upon graduation from Pacific University in 1950, George moved to West Virginia to establish his first optometric office. Jackie joined him there, but really didn't like the area. She came back to Hillsboro, George sold his equipment, closed shop, and joined her. Child number two was born.

George then opened another optometric practice in the small community of Nyssa, Oregon. Three more children were born here.

Even though Jackie and George loved the community of Nyssa, and had made some very close friends, the potential for building a good optometric practice just wasn't there. The move to Kennewick, Washington proved to be the place where George and Jackie would settle, thrive, and grow their family.

Once settled in Kennewick, Jackie served as the organist for the United Methodist Church, gave private piano lessons, served as a leader in the Camp Fire Girls, was a den leader for Cub Scouts, was an active member of PEO, and belonged to a Bridge group. As a family, Jackie and George made many road trips on the old Columbia River Highway to visit Jackie's parents and sister's family in Hillsboro. The home she grew up in still stands on 6th Street.

Jackie was very proud of her father, James Walter Barney, who had served as a Washington County Engineer for ten years, and then served as the City Manager of Hillsboro for 33 years. He retired in 1972.

Jackie launched into her role as mother and wife, with the values and traditions of her time. Her children were squeaky clean, neatly dressed, and well fed. When they were small, they were read to almost every day. Naughty words weren't allowed to come out of their mouths, and adults were always addressed as Mr., Miss, or Mrs., never by first names.

Mother had expectations for her children. She expected them to be well-behaved, especially in public settings, she expected them to try hard to be good students, and she expected them to try to be the best person they could be. They were expected to go to church every Sunday, and had to sit and listen to the sermon because often, there was no Sunday school. Those were the days when little girls wore frilly dresses with full petty coats, patent leather shoes with white ankle socks, white gloves, had their offering tied up in little white hankies, and the boys had to wear button up cotton shirts, and bow ties.

In the summer, mother would can fruits and vegetables. She loved decorating her home, was famous for her unusual Christmas trees, and loved finding antique furniture to furnish her home. She also loved collecting antique glass.

Jackie also loved music. She was always a member of the Community Concert Association. Attending music programs remained one of her favorite activities for as long as she was able.

Jackie had goals, hopes, and ambitions for her children, but at some point, every child began to live their own life. Some of her children made choices that were difficult for her and dad to accept, but they loved their children anyway. Speaking for myself, there were moments mom and dad were proud of me, and times when I disappointed them greatly. They loved me anyway.

Jackie and George have always been there for us. Jackie's grandchildren were very special to her. They were perfection to her, and she lavished her love on them. She did what she could to nurture and encourage them in life. They all remember her delicious PBJ's, her beautiful hand made Christmas ornaments, stuffed animals, knit shirts, shorts, and PJ's. She made time spent with her special by coming up with fun craft projects, providing swim lessons, buying new clothes, and preparing good food. Getting ice-cream from Grandpa was also a pretty important part of each child's experience.

As Jackie and George approached their mid 50's, they decided to commit their lives to God in a new, more personal way. Jackie and George asked Christ into their hearts, and were baptized by immersion in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. They began to attend the Nazarene Church, started to study the Bible, and listened to Dr. Schuler on TV. They had been doing this for several years when mother's active life was drastically changed by a brain aneurism at the age of 60. The left side of her body was partially paralyzed, and she never fully recovered from the effects of this massive stroke.

A few years after her stroke, George and Jackie left Kennewick, and decided to make Hillsboro their retirement home. They built a new home at 2467 N.E. Estate Drive in Hillsboro, and made the Nazarene Church in Hillsboro their new church home. For a number of years, they enjoyed the many friends they made in their neighborhood, and in the Nazarene Church community.


Over the years, Jackie became less mobile, and increasingly dependent on George. It became difficult to get in and out of the car, so Jackie and George eventually became more and more house bound. Jackie's ability to play the piano, sew, and do fine needle work had ended long ago. With great courage, she found ways to stay busy, and George did what he could to provide her with scrapbooks she would fill with random clippings from the local newspaper.

In their later years, Jackie and George spent many an evening watching the news, and playing Gin rummy. Jackie's dementia and shaking in her hands eventually made playing cards difficult.

As her dementia progressed, Jackie became a bit obsessive about crumbs on the floor or on the kitchen table. George's new name was ass-hole. George lovingly cared for her in spite of the fact that she did plenty of complaining and could be very difficult to help.

Upon George's passing, Jackie's dementia had reached the point that she really couldn't comprehend that George was gone. In her mind he was at work or away for some business reason.

At this point, Jackie's passing brings to a close the legacy of the couple we knew as Jackie and George. Mom and dad are gone.

What I know is that at some point, they needed more of God in their lives. They learned that loving God is where real "life" begins. They allowed that relationship with God to sustain them and guide their decisions. They loved and gave to their family. They had compassion for their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. They used the energy of their lives and their resources to nurture, encourage, and support those they loved in life. We will miss them terribly.

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Haiku Memories of My Mother: Jacqueline June Barney
Born May 21st, 1928

Sweet smelling mother.
Tucks me in every night.
Loves me, cuddles me.

Mother mad at kids.
Messy, noisy, dirty kids.
Making messy house.

Cooking, cleaning mom.
Making dinner ev'ryday.
Yummy dinner. Thanks!

Playing piano.
Plays pretty for us at night.
Plays us all to sleep.

Fun at playing cards.
Lets us beat her all the time.
Always playing Nertz!

Pretty, dressed up mom.
Wearing great big flowered hats!
Lipstick, gloves, and hats.

Plays organ at church.
Makes us very proud of her.
Plays pretty music.

An irate mother,
Fingers like claws clutch my head.
The rest forgotten.

Likes decorating.
Makes our house look very nice.
Pretty color blue.

by
Carolyn Cobern