Barbara June Clay Anderson, 66, died Sunday, February 4, 2018 at Holladay Healthcare Center in Holladay, Utah. Barbara was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 22, 1952 to George C. and Addie H. Clay. She was the youngest of three sisters.
When Barbara was nine months old, she contracted an infection that left her profoundly deaf. Barbara attended the Utah School for the Deaf, first in Salt Lake City then at the Ogden campus. There she made many friends including her future husband, Dennis. She graduated from USD in 1972.
In 1975, she reconnected with her high school friend, Dennis Leslie Anderson. They were married on December 3, 1976. They lived in Murray, UT. They were married for 40 years and Dennis was her steady helpmate even as she began losing her vision and had other medical problems.
As a youth Barbara was talented in drawing and sketching. She loved home crafting and produced many wonderful decorative projects. She enjoyed visiting with her family and friends, taking care of her pets, and playing games on her electronic devices. She did not hesitate to introduce herself to new people and found joy in helping others as much as she could. One of the things most will remember about Barbara is her delightful sense of humor. She loved to tease and joke.
In the last part of her life Barbara struggled with illnesses including diabetes, kidney disease, and most troubling for her, visual impairment due to iritis, retinal detachment and macular degeneration. Her sight was vital because she relied on sign language to communicate with her husband, Dennis, as well as with her many Deaf friends. Despite losing sight in one eye she bravely struggled with diminishing sight in the remaining eye. Barbara's husband, family and friends helped her contend with her health issues and she maintained a remarkably positive outlook on life despite her many illnesses.
Barbara's husband, Dennis, preceded her in death one year ago on January 8, 2017. She mourned his loss every day.
Barbara leaves her sisters Lorraine Quigley (Phil) and Patricia Bryker (Emiel) as well as nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews and numerous friends in the Deaf community.
The family wishes to give special gratitude to the nurses and staff of the Holladay Healthcare Center. They gave her care, they worked to learn sign language to better communicate with her, and they shared in her teasing and jokes. They made her life there very happy. Gratitude is also given to the doctors, nurses, and staff at the Moran Eye Center, especially Dr. Albert Vitale, Dr. Amy Lin, and Dr. Paul Bernstein. Their tireless efforts to save Barbara's remaining vision will be forever remembered.
A celebration of Barbara's life will be held Thursday, February 15th, 2018 at South Valley Unitarian Church, 6876 South Highland Drive, Cottonwood Heights, Ut, 84121 from 4-6 PM. Informal dress.
