Obituary of Barbara Mary Pawson

It was a beautiful sunny day on March 13, 2021 when Barbara Pawson, age 79, left this world as gracefully and graciously as she lived in it. Surrounded by her children Jane and David Loblaw, Gord and Lori Pawson, Kate and Scott Langen and her beloved granddaughters Rachel, Sydney, Chloe Langen and Demira, Darian Pawson. She gently passed while Frank Sinatra sang quietly in the background. Barbara was predeceased by her husband of 50 years Geoff Pawson (2012) and her son David Pawson(2018). Barbara leaves behind her brother Roger and Vicki Hardage, her sister Ann and Jim Stevens, as well as nieces, nephews, in-laws and many friends made over the years. 

Mum was born in Manchester, England, on September 13, 1941. The family lived in England and during the war on an army base in Germany. When Barbara was about 13 years old, the family settled in Edmonton AB when they moved to Canada. 

Barbara met the love of her life, Geoff Pawson, in Edmonton in 1961. They were married August 25, 1962 and their eldest, Jane, was born in 1963, Gord in 1965 and Kate in 1968. In 1971, a three year old little boy joined the family and became David Pawson. 

In 1966, Ranch Ehrlo was created by her husband Geoff and she was forever a huge part of that family.  The family moved to Los Angeles in 1974 when Geoff went to USC for his PhD and she always joked that she has an honorary PhD in social work as she had painstakingly typed, retyped and typed again his doctorate dissertation over and over. Mum got to travel the world with Dad on the many national and international conferences and symposiums relating to child and youth services. 

She was an avid reader and enjoyed books so much so that for years she would record novels for the sight impaired. She was dedicated to her yoga ritual for more than 50 years and played badminton weekly until she no longer could. She loved the arts and maintained a subscription to the Globe Theatre, MacKenzie Art gallery and The Regina Symphony Orchestra for years.

Mum had an elegance and grace of style that wowed. She was an avid entertainer and hosted many dinner and cocktail parties over the years that people still remember and smile fondly about. She had a great sense of humour and loved to laugh. 

Her last year was spent in Harbour Landing Village and we’d like to thank them for the great care she received there. She loved the staff but most notably she developed a great bond and friendship with Tracey Tompson.

Mum had a full life. She knew she was loved and we knew she loved and was very proud of her family. She is already greatly missed.

A private celebration of Mum’s life will be held at a later date and a YouTube video of the service will be made available on this page following the service.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to, Crohn’s and Colitis Canada, crohnsandcolitis.ca or the Ranch Ehrlo Society Ehrlo.com.  Condolences may be left here, on Barbara’s tribute page or janepl@sasktel.net