Obituary of Barbara Anne Bassett Tarr

Barbara Bassett Tarr passed away peacefully, with family by her side, of heart failure on May 5, 2018. She was born November 25, 1931, to Chet and Pearl Hawkins, in Eugene, Oregon, and raised in Tillamook. Barbara attended the U of O, where she made her lifelong friendships at the Alpha Phi house and met the father of her 4 children, Billy O'Brien Bassett, to whom she was married for 17 years. She married Arthur J. Lewis in 1973, who was wonderful to her adolescent children. Barbara left a career she loved and excelled at as a headhunter for Management Recruiters, when she met the love of her life, Byron C. Tarr. Together they spent over 25 years traveling the world, hosting treasured family vacations, socializing, playing bridge, golfing and mostly laughing. She embraced the role of matriarch to a large family that adored her. She was predeceased by her brother, Ray (“Uncle Boo”), and her parents. Survivors include her husband, Byron; son, Mark Bassett; Daughters, Shelby Milam (Robin), Lisa Gogas (Julio), Darcy Wente (Tony); and step-children, Skip Tarr (Ruth), Elizabeth Diller (Cal), Leslie Blount (Brian); 14 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren. She will be remembered for her loyalty, fierce love of family and friends, quick wit and style. She and Byron taught us what it means to truly love someone. We are forever grateful. Job well done, Coco. Rest in peace. ----