Barbara Darlene Notter

Barbara Darlene Waddle Notter was born on March 29, 1935 to Frances Jane and David Marcus Waddle in Santa Barbara, CA. She was also raised by her step-father, John Loska with whom she was very close. She is predeceased by her parents, her step-father, her beloved brother, David Alan Waddle; her husband, Alva Dean Notter, two infant sons, John Foster and Richard Elmer and her precious son, David Dean Notter. Barbara was raised in Ventura, California where she met and married her high school sweetheart, Alva Dean Notter. When Dean joined the US Navy, they traveled to Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Jacksonville, FL, San Diego, CA and Long Beach, MS. Tragically, Dean died of a heart attack in 1971 and Barbara raised their four children alone. She met the love of her life after her children were raised and has enjoyed a wonderful, loving relationship with Preston Bond for the last 27 years. Throughout her life, she would accomplish many “firsts”: She was a single-parent foster parent for Harrison County Youth Court, she volunteered for the Battered Women’s Shelter (which later became Gulf Coast Women’s Center for Nonviolence) and the Humane Society of South Mississippi. She was especially proud of her pioneering efforts to bring equality to women. During her career, Barbara was a feminist who strongly believed in women’s rights and was proud to discuss the issue with anyone who would listen. She was a member of Federally Employed Women (FEW), a national organization. In her spare time, she enjoyed time with her grandchildren, bingo, playing bridge, the casinos, traveling, being out on the water and time spent loving the Boxer breed of dogs. She was a Friend of Lois W. and shared her love of the program with many close and dear friends. She was of the Episcopalian faith and attended St. Patrick’s Church in Long Beach. Our mother was most proud of her beautiful children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren and invested her love, time and talent with each of them. Barbara is survived by her life companion, Preston Bond; her children: Katherine (Mark) Peeples, Richard (Barbara) Notter, and Julie (Allen) Forrest. Barbara had 11 grandchildren: Elizabeth Bartlett, Adam Peeples, Tara Aldridge, Zach Notter, Charles Notter, Michael Notter, Christopher Notter, Lauren Pierce, Matthew Forrest, Daniel Forrest and Timothy Forrest. She has 13 great grandchildren. Pallbearers will be her grandsons: Michael Notter, Christopher Notter, Charles Notter, Zach Notter, Daniel Forrest and Timothy Forrest. Services will be Monday, February 9, 2015 at St. Patrick’s Church in Long Beach at 4 pm. Viewing will be one hour prior to service. Cremation will follow with interment at a later date. The family requests Memorial donations to the American Lung Association of MS, P.O. Box 2178, Ridgeland, MS 39158 or the Humane Society of South MS, 2615 25th Avenue, Gulfport, MS 39501. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com