Aug. 30, 1942 - Aug. 23, 2008

Barbara Lee Slater Bowers Delano, 65, of Salem died Saturday in Troutdale after a six year battle with cancer.

She was born in Lebanon to Lee "Bud" Slater and Edith Gift.

Barbara lived in Oregon most of her life, except for the seven years she lived in Colorado during a job transfer with Cal-Gas Propane Co. She graduated from Detroit High School, and then attended business school in Salem. When her children were teenagers, she attended Linn-Benton Community College to work on her accounting degree.

In 1960 she married Lloyd Bowers, with whom she has four children. They later divorced. She married Max Delano in 1983. They were together until his death from cancer in July.

Barbara worked in accounting for many years and as comptroller for Cal Gas Propane Co. After retiring from the propane company, she moved back to Oregon where she worked for Cascade Paving in Salem. She later moved back to Sweet Home and worked for Morse Brothers until her retirement in 2004 due to illness.

Barbara loved her family and would do whatever she could for both family and friends. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. Her laughter, her sense of humor, her story telling, and her concern about others are just a few of the things we will never forget about her.

Her hobbies included cooking, gardening, canning, traveling, reading, sewing, and spending time with her family. While her children were growing up, Barbara made most of their school clothes.

Barbara is survived by her son, Bill Bowers of Salem; step-sons Carl and Gary Delano; daughters Susan Anderson of Troutdale, Julie Erikson of Fairview and Kelly McClain of Keizer; step-daughters Linda McCain and Sherry Kay Purcella; her mother; brother Phillip Slater of Crawfordsville; eight grandchildren; and one neice.

She was preceded in death by her dad in 2004 and her husband on July 6.

A funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 5, at Sweet Home Evangelical Church, 1347 Long St. There will be a potluck dinner after the service at the VFW in Sweet Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.