WAMSLEY, Barbara

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona, Thursday, December 13, 2012 Barbara Wilson Wamsley passed away on Dec. 11, 2012, in Helena, Mont., at age 89, of natural causes. Barbara was born in Lewistown, Mont., on May 12, 1923, the second daughter of John A. and Katherine L. Wilson. She graduated from Fergus County High School in Lewistown in 1941. She attended the University of Montana in Missoula for one year and joined Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She left the university to marry Stanley (Bud) Johnson. The following year, as a fighter pilot in the South Pacific during World War II, Bud was declared MIA. Barbara later returned to the university and graduated with a BA in Philosophy and Psychology. Following her graduation, Barbara married Charles Krest Cyr and they had two daughters. In 1974, She married George W. Wamsley and they resided in Phoenix, Ariz. Barbara later got her real estate license and practiced for several years. They later moved to Prescott, Ariz., in 1978, and finally, in 2003, they returned to Montana. Barbara was very active in her church and a variety of charitable organizations, along with the Republican Party during her lifetime. Barbara is survived by her husband George; children, Katherine Adine Cox and husband Sam Haygood of Clayton, N.C., Mary Joan Cyr of Grand Rapids, Mich., Bill and wife Anne Wamsley of Mill Valley, Calif.; daughter-in-law Joanne Wamsley of Gilbert, Ariz.; eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Contributions may be made in her name to Shodair Children's Hospital, 2755 Colonial Drive, Helena, MT 59601 or www.shodair.org. Arrangements were with Big Sky Cremations in East Helena, Mont. Information provided by survivors.