Obituary of Barbara Anne Cordell

It was a warm June 5th in 1947 when Gerald and Margaret McBroom welcomed their second of three daughters, Barbara Anne, into the world. Traditionally middle children are often the glue that holds a family together. Their character leads to creating long-standing meaningful friendships. They become the axis on which dozens of relationships are balanced. Barbara did little to contradict these largely theoretical traits. She in fact, epitomized them. Whether in Idaho, Hawaii, Virginia or Oregon, her home was where family came to celebrate, mourn, or to just be. It was simply where you went when you needed a smile, a hug, or a cookie, when you needed to feel loved. No matter the occasion, you left Barbara’s home a little better person than when you arrived.. It is through these things that Barbara will live on in all who knew her. We will see her in a seemingly random act taken by her daughters, Alicia and Jessica. When her grandchildren, Hannah and Landon laugh, our heart will hear Barbara’s laugh. When her sister Janice tells tales of childhood trauma that can only be understood by the youngest sibling, we will hear Barbara laughingly deny it, eventually admit her role in it, before finally convincing Janice it was all eldest sister Mary’s idea. This is the safe ground walked by a middle child. This is what Barbara created for people – a safe place. During times of reflection, take a moment to thank God for putting Barbara in your life. Then ask his thoughts on the Banana Bread. He’ll probably say it is “Heavenly.” The family asks that any donations be made in Barbara’s name, to the OHSU Department of Neurology.