Barbara Mae Garner
Barbara Mae Garner, loving mother, amazing grandmother, fun great grandmother, and bookkeeper extraordinaire born January 18, 1925 in Berkeley, California lived a wonderful life. Numbers were one of her favorites: 2 daughters, 11 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, 6 nieces and nephews, 13 great nieces and nephews,19 great, great nieces and nephews; 10, 900 rounds of golf played, 1st woman to serve on the board of directors at Stockdale Country Club, Bakersfield, 1,000 chocolate chip cookie care packages mailed to grandkids, 8,100 card games played of Kings in the Corner and bridge, 9,300 books read, 600th research participant in the Albert Einstein School of Medicine Centenarian Longevity Project, 32 weeks of radiation over 7 years for 2 different cancers and survived both, 10 countries visited, 70th birthday spent in the Monteverde Cloud Forest in Costa Rica, 2,000 handwritten postcards to voters reminding to vote, 1929 first camping trip to Yosemite National Park, 1936 walked across the Oakland Bay Bridge on it’s opening day, 1956 saw Elvis Presley’s first show in Las Vegas, 1976 visited the Holy Land, 100th birthday party spent with 175 friends and family in Bakersfield, 101st birthday celebrated in Las Vegas, June 12, 2026 passed away peacefully in Bakersfield with her 2 daughters by her side listening to Fly Me to the Moon by Frank Sinatra and Amazing Grace by Dolly Parton.
Barbara’s family would like to thank Ridley Tree Cancer Center of Santa Barbara for their outstanding care. We would also like to thank Drs. Fred Kass, George Cheng, Ben Diener, Richard Hammond, Robert Kershaw, Scott Nickel, Peter Nickel, and Tom Van Meter for their excellent care and compassion they gave our mother over the years, it took a Santa Barbara village. Many thanks to Sheila Gillette, RN, and to the Cottage Hospital Palliative Care team whose support and nice latte made a difference. Sincere appreciation goes to Susan Beechinor R.N., cousin, for the priceless nursing care and love she gave her aunt Bar, Sharon Beechinor Smith, cousin, who was always there for us too, Ruth Kyes for her valuable friendship and many Chumash Casino outings with our mom, Dr. Grace Beer, DDS, a wonderful friend who answered every phone call, Guardian Angels of Ventura and to Hoffman Hospice of Bakersfield for their remarkable care.
Surviving family include; daughters Carrie Garner (Peter Nickel) of Santa Barbara, and Patty Schuler(John) of Bakersfield, grandchildren Matt Nickel(Heidi) Remy and Maddie of Chicago, Illinois, Sara Nickel(Galen Johnson) Cal and Ashton Johnson of Santa Barbara, Hannah Woodruff (Gabe) Liberty, Elle, Lucy and Londyn of Phoenix, Arizona, Air Force Captain Nathan Schuler (Anna) Theo, Silas, Phoebe and Amos of San Antonio, Texas, Lily Sanders(Ben) Beckett, Daisy and Poppy of Clermont, Florida, Nolan Schuler(Haley) Lewis, Fredrick and Alice of Marysville, Washington, Air Force Captain Cole Schuler of Oahu, Hawaii, Brett Schuler(Krysta) and Barbara of Phoenix, Arizona, Brian Schuler of Phoenix Arizona, Grace Schuler of Phoenix, Arizona and Helen Schuler of Bakersfield.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Barbara’s favorite organizations, Ridley Tree Cancer Center, Food From the Heart Santa Barbara, Hoffman Hospice of Bakersfield and the Humane Society.
