Barbara Jean Surette

Barbara Jean Wiley Surette, April 4, 1938 to July 22, 2021
She was born April 4, 1938 to Ellen Miller Wiley and William Allen Wiley in Nampa, ID, at Mrs. Brown’s Maternity Home. Her Wiley grandparents were living in Nampa and her Miller grandparents were ranching in Arock, OR.
During her very early life her father was living in Elko, NV. Her parents were divorced in 1941 and her mother worked in Boise. In 1944 her mother became Postmaster in Arock, OR where Barbara and her brother, David, attended grade school. In 1947 her mother married Mitchell (Mike) Corta. While growing up in Arock she benefitted from the extended family of her Miller grandparents and four uncles, all of whom ranched nearby. She was predeceased by her parents and stepfather, and her brother, David Wiley. She is survived by her husband, Leonard, her brother’s four children, Casandra Crowell, Shelly Vegwert, Ted Wiley, and Boyd Wiley, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
She attended Crane Boarding School in 1951-52. In 1952 her Grandmother moved to Caldwell and Barbara lived with her while attending and graduating from Caldwell High School in 1955. That year she began attending Westmont College, graduating in 1959 at 20 years old, majoring in History and English. She formed friendships at Westmont that lasted the rest of her life. She taught school in Idaho and California during her twenties. In 1968, at the age of 30, she married Leonard Thomas Surette in Caldwell. He was an Electronics Engineer with Raytheon Company in Santa Barbara, CA. They lived in Santa Barbara and Santa Ynez, CA until Sept. 2018 when they moved to Arock, OR and to Caldwell, ID.
Some of her hobbies included collecting and reading books, needlepoint, collecting artwork, and gardening. She especially enjoyed travel to England and the Middle East. She loved having a weekly Bible Study and sharing the Word with others. She loved her husband, her family and friends very deeply. She never forgot a gift for a birthday or other occasion.
She will be interred at Jordan Valley Cemetery on Thursday July 29. Viewing is at the High Desert Bible Church in Jordan Valley at 2:30 PM and the service at 3:00 PM. Graveside service to follow with food served at the church. In lieu of flowers please donate to InFaith.org ministry.

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