Barbara Lee Urcaregui, loving mother, daughter, and dear friend passed away unexpectedly Nov. 14, at the age of 71.

Barb was born July 13, 1947, to Irvin and Lorene (Hester) Kincaid in Burns. She joined her older brother, Dennis, and the family was complete. Barb was a lifelong Harney County resident. She had an idyllic childhood, attending Hines Elementary and Burns High School, graduating in 1965. Barb played on the volleyball team and was a majorette. She was a Brownie and also a member of the Eastern Star Rainbow Club.

Barb married John Kelly in 1965, and they were blessed with two boys, Pat and Jon. Barb and John parted ways, but they were able to rekindle a friendship, and in recent years, they shared special family occasions that included their two boys and their families, as well as John’s wife, Marilyn.

In 1977, Barb was working at the Edward Hines Lumber Mill where she met and fell in love with Santiago Urcaregui. Shortly after their marriage, they traveled to Spain and met Santi’s family. Barb had many fond memories and great stories about their adventure. They also enjoyed many trips to the Oregon Coast with Pat and Jon. Camp Creek was their favorite place to get away together. Following Santi’s death in 2006, Barb returned to Camp Creek to spread his ashes. In the spring, Barb will take her final trip to Camp Creek where she will join Santi under an aspen tree that bears their initials in a heart.

None of us get through life without heartbreak, and that was true for Barb as well. In 1991, Barb lost her only brother, Dennis, and in 2000, her beloved father, Irv Kincaid, also passed away. Perhaps the most difficult loss in anyone’s life is the death of a child. In 2016, Barb suffered the devastating loss of her oldest son, Pat. On several occasions before Pat’s passing, she was able to travel to Heber City, Utah, with her son, Jon, and mother, Lorene, to visit Pat, Monica, Tyler, and Kyle. Those trips were very special, and Pat loved making “Thanksgiving dinner,” whether it was Thanksgiving or not.

Barb was active in the planning of all the Class of ’65 reunions. She was a member of Beta Omega where she served as president and secretary/treasurer. Barb also traveled with a group of her classmates each year. These ladies were known as the “Rowdy Bunch,” and they visited Hood River, the Oregon Coast, and several other locations where they would spend a few days sightseeing and shopping. Judy, Sharron, Betty, Susie, Linda, Gina, Nona, and Barb where like sisters, and their time together was filled with fun and laughter. Barb was a member of two Bunco Clubs, and she was a member of the Golden Girls, a group of women who would get together each Saturday night to go out to a local restaurant.

Barb was happy when her mother, Lorene, returned to Harney County to be closer to her. They spent many happy hours together, and they were able to travel to California in July to visit Jon and Rhonda. Lorene feels very blessed to have had such wonderful memories with Barbara.

Barbara is survived by her loving mother, Lorene Kincaid; son, Jon Kelly and his longtime partner, Rhonda; her beloved daughter-in-law, Monica Kelly, and Pat and Monica’s sons, Tyler and Kyle; nephew, Mark Kincaid and his wife, Heidi, and their four sons; Amy Henderson and her husband, Bruce, and their son and daughter.

There will be a celebration of life at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Harney County Senior and Community Services Center. Please bring your friendship, favorite story, and a dish to share. Remembrances in Barbara’s honor may be made to Harney County Hospice, in care of LaFollete’s Chapel, P.O. Box 488, Burns, Oregon 97720.