Barbara L. Ashmore

1923 ~ 2021
Barbara L. Ashmore, age 98, passed on to her eternal reward Nov. 29, in Battle Ground, WA. She was the daughter of Taylor McLaughlin and Margaret De Vries McLaughlin. Barbara was raised on a cherry orchard in Centralia, WA. In 1939 she married Don Ashmore. The couple had three children, Mardonna (Andersen), Russell, who died in infancy, and Roberta (Horn). Barbara was blessed with four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and 23 great-great-grandchildren.
Don and Barbara pastored churches for many years. It was their joy to sing and preach the gospel of Jesus. The young couple started a church on Logan Hill near Centralia. In 1949 they moved to Montana, where they pastored in the Assemblies of God denomination in several locations before moving back to Washington in 1964.
Barbara was a self-taught cake decorator/artist. She created cakes for every occasion, sometimes traveling many miles to make cakes for special friends. She worked in the Camas Safeway bakery for 14 years, and while there she created a gigantic 12-foot-long cake for the City of Camas Centennial celebration in 1983. With frosting, she worked 12-1/2 hours to reproduce a beautiful painting of the city and the Columbia River on the massive cake, then watched with satisfaction as the townspeople happily enjoyed her art!
She loved to travel, and her many trips included three to the Holy Land. She attended Northlake Church in Camas, where she assisted in many ministries over the years. Some of her ministries to senior citizens included leading weekly services at Highland Terrace, Mountain View, and Columbia Ridge nursing homes.
At age 89 Barbara moved to the Van Mall Retirement Center, where she taught a weekly Bible study and assisted in weekly worship services, leading singing and occasionally preaching. One of her great joys was to lead someone to know Jesus.
A Memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11, at NorthLake Church, 500 SE Everett Street, Camas, WA 98607.