On Saturday, November 5, 2022 Barbara Clare Baer passed away peacefully at the age of 71 years in St. Michael’s Hospital.

She was born on January 21, 1951 to Joan and Sanford Preston in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

The family moved to Calgary and then to Cold Lake. Barb completed high school there at Beaver River High and then received a teaching degree from the University of Lethbridge. She started her teaching career in Manyberries, then to Bonnyville and finally in Grande Prairie. It was there she met her husband to be, Rick. They married in 1980. Barb left teaching to start Creative Writes, a business that perfected advertising for small businesses. She evolved that business into Direct Route Communication Services to broaden the scope of advertising, strategies and corporate proposals and edited novels for writers. She finished her career as an instructor at the Business Career College in Grande Prairie. In 2004 they moved to Lethbridge to spend as many years as they could with Rick’s parents, Netta and Fred Baer.

Barb loved the outdoors and especially camping, whether it was in the foothills and mountains of southern Alberta or with family at Pigeon Lake. Barb also loved winter getaways to a cabin in the Crowsnest Pass and snowshoeing at the base of Crowsnest Mountain. She was a gardener and loved to be outside on the deck. She also loved being around family and socializing with friends and especially with “The Gang”. She always prepared a feast for family and friends on Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. She would also write poems for others to suit special occasions.

She is survived by her loving husband. Rick, her brother Bob Preston of Sherwood Park, her Brother Stan (Leslie) Preston of Fort Saskatchewan, her sister Janet (Floyd) Johnson of Berwyn, her brother Paul (Michelle) Preston of Sherwood Park, and her brother Dave (Jackie) Preston of Peachland; her niece Sara (Chris) Schroeder of Halifax; her nephews Jim (Amanda) Preston of Fort McMurray, Garret Preston with Elexandra Greaves of Lethbridge, Sean (Chelsey) Preston of Langford, BC, Adam Preston of Sherwood Park, Aaron Preston of Peachland, BC, Joel Preston with Lori-Ann Rowe of Fort Saskatchewan, Matthew Preston with Lynelle Steman of Edmonton and Chris Johnson of Berwyn; great nieces Makaela, Toryn and Britt; great nephews Kai, Lucas and Oak.

Barb loved her niece, nephews and great nieces and nephews and when asked if she had children, she would always say of her and Rick, “No, we’re professional Aunts and Uncles”.

She is predeceased by her parents Joan and Sanford Preston.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 pm, on Saturday, November 12, 2022 at MARTIN BROTHERS RIVERVIEW CHAPEL, 610, 4 STREET SOUTH, Lethbridge Alberta.

To watch the service via livestream, please go to  https://www.mbfunerals.com/obituary/Barbara-Baer and scroll to the bottom of the obituary page. 

Flowers are gratefully declined. For those who wish, please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice.