Barbara Jean Sagar Sears

Barbara Jean Sagar Sears graced this earth on March 23, 1943 and left a giant hole in our hearts on Aug. 25, 2019, with family and friend by her side.

Barbara was born in Butte to Joseph and Helen (Severs) Sagar. She was raised in Butte and graduated from Girls Butte Central High School in 1961. She then attended Carroll College, graduating in 1965 with a Bachelor of Arts in Early Education. What we have heard from numerous friends, is that she was placed at Carroll College by God as a test for the staff of Carroll College. Barbara was offered her first job in Libby in 1965 and was only going to stay a couple years. The elementary school system, the children she taught and the people, who had the privilege of working beside her, will never be the same. Barbara devoted 40-plus years to teaching the young children in Libby until her retirement.

Barbara was blessed with a son, Shane, in 1969. Barbara and Shane recently enjoyed the special gift of spending his 50th birthday together with family in Post Falls, Idaho.

There is nothing she enjoyed more than a card game or board game with her grandchildren, Jakob and Dylan. Throughout their growing up “Nana” was quite the competitor during games and they have carried this love of cards and games to adulthood.

Barbara had so many special friends. She was always making time for lunch dates, dinner dates, church events or enjoying a play, it was all about spending time with her family and many friends. Just look around – none of us that knew her say we were untouched by her love. Barbara had amazing grace – no – Barbara was amazing grace.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, her brother and sister-in-law, Joseph and Esther Sagar; her sister Betty Dean and nephew, Jimmy Dean; her aunt and uncle, Evelyn and Bill Richards and nephew Billy Richards.

Barbara is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Shane and Tonya Sears; two wonderful grandsons she loved being Nana to, Jakob and Dylan Sears, all of Post Falls, Idaho; brother-in-law James Dean; cousin Nancy Hodel of Portland; nieces Laurie Sullivan of Libby; Sherrie Carriger of Melrose; Karrie Sagar of Butte; Mary Beth Davis of Eldorado Hills, CA; and nephew Joe Sagar of Elko, Nevada; her scrabble opponent Shannon Wolleat of Libby; and numerous great nieces and nephews. We are all so blessed to have had her touch our lives.

Rosary will be at 7 p.m., Friday, Sept. 6, 2019 at Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby. A service and celebration of Barbara’s life will be at 10 a.m., on Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Libby and a reception will follow at the VFW at 12:30 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in her name to Wings, St. Joseph Catholic Church or call your friends and enjoy a lunch or a game of cards in her honor. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.