Life story

"Barbara was born on a ranch in Bennet valley at the end of Guenza road as Barbara Jean Guenza . She was raised in the family ranch and graduated from Santa Rosa high school . She was then married to James L payne and they had three children . She worked at the telephone company in Santa Rosa and retired from a long successful career there . She was quite the softball player and enjoyed competing with her team . A few years after retirement she moved to a newly built home in La Grange , Calif where she lived until her death . She was a very devoted mother , wife and always committed to her family .She always supported her children in activities and worked hard at being the high school rodeo secretary for seven years .She never really new a stranger and could develop a relationship with everyone .She used to spend many summers in the Marble Mtn wilderness with her husband and family packing mules , horses on wilderness expeditions . She recently went on a cruise with her Granddaughters ,son and family where she realized a goal of going on a zip line in Roatan at 86 years young . A hard working fun loving mother ,wife and sister it was hard to remember a time that she was not smiling , laughing and enjoying life .She loved to watch her great grand children and cherished entertaining family events . She was loved by us all and will truly be missed for the rest of our lives . Services will be held at Santa Rosa cemetery February 16th at 11:00 am. All who knew her are welcome. "