Barbara J. (Graham) SYLVESTER

SYLVESTER, GRAHAM, HALLIDAY, MORTENSON, MYERS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:06:47

August 9, 1933 ---- June 29, 2013

Barbara J. Sylvester, 79, of rural Webster City, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly Saturday June 29, 2013 at Van Diest Medical Center. She will be deeply missed by her family and friends. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, July 6, 2013 at the Asbury United Methodist Church with Rev. Jay Amundson and Rev. John Wilson officiating. Interment will follow in the Graceland Cemetery, Webster City, Iowa. Visitation will be held from 5 until 8pm Friday at the church. Foster Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be left to help establish a memorial garden.

Barbara was born August 9, 1933 in Webster City, Iowa the daughter of Will V. and Bessie M. Halliday Graham. She attended school in the rural Webster City area and graduated from Webster City High in 1951. She completed her Webster City Junior College Teaching Certificate in the mid 1950’s with gold honors. Barb went on to teach in the Webster City area and enhanced the lives of many youth.

She served as the 2 Year old Sunday School Teacher for Asbury United Methodist for well over 25 years and currently was involved with United Methodist Women as program resources leader with the honors of being a past president and currently on the nominating committee for North Central District. Barbara was also a member of the Ruth Circle.

Barbara was united in marriage to James Sylvester on March 25, 1959 at the Asbury United Methodist Church. Together they farmed in Cass Township from 1961 - 1991. Their farming operation consisted of grain crops and raising livestock. She had the love of the outdoors, nature and all living things. Barbara hosted school children to visit the Sylvester Farm to view animals of all sort for over 18 years. To carry on her love of youth and animals, Barbara was a leader of the Cass Red Peppers 4-H club for 9 years and was 4-H Garden Project leader for 20 years. She has served as Hamilton County Fair Flower Show Superintendent since 1987 and was always eager to be a 4-H Horticulture Judge and Flower Show Judge in many other counties in the state.

Her interest in horticulture and flowers lead her to serve two terms as President of the local Town and Country Garden Clubs which currently she was serving a third term as Co-President with her daughter Amber. Barbara was President of the Federated Garden Clubs of Iowa from 1991-1993, Past Central Region Director of seven states of the National Garden Clubs from 2005 2007 and past President of the Iowa State Horticulture Society. She continued to serve on many local, state, regional and national committees. Her love of the outdoors, nature and all living things was one of her driving hobbies of her life. Barbara loved gardening of all sorts and most of the time you could find her in the garden and her yard with her hands in the soil.

Survivors include daughters Amber of Webster City, Holly and Tim Mortenson of Kamrar and son Kory and Susan Budlong Sylvester of Los Alamos, New Mexico and three grandchildren, Jamie Myers of Emmetsburg, Max and Syler Sylvester of Los Alamos, New Mexico, Sister-in-law Wilma Sylvester of Sioux City, Brother-in-law Guy Sylvester of Webster City and several Nieces, nephews and cousins. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, husband James F. Sylvester, son James F. Sylvester, sister Velma Olive Graham and several aunts and uncles.

Daily Freeman Journal -- Webster City, Iowa
July 2, 2013