Barbara Mahaffey

Barbara Alice Proud Mahaffey died at home in Vernal, Utah, May 21, 2012 of colon cancer. She was born Barbara Alice Proud, December 16, 1937 to Mary Bunting and Harry S. Proud, in Casper, Wyoming. She married Ben D. Mahaffey, August 13, 1954 in Raton, New Mexico. The couple was later sealed in the Manti, Utah, Temple on March 28, 1959.

She graduated from Natrona County High School in Casper, Wyoming and began a lifetime of secretarial work in various fields, including banking, oil production, and law. She and her husband retired to Vernal a year before the Temple was completed, in anticipation of participating.

She was an ardent genealogist for over 50 years and researched and prepared temple records to have the work performed for over 11,000 people. She served for a lifetime in various Church auxiliaries, including primary, Sunday School and Relief Society. She was a Vernal Temple worker for several years.

Interest in herbs gave Barbara the motivation to research and develop several different balms for various ailments. She freely gave hundreds of jars away to anyone who desired them. People have been aided by her work all over the valley, across the nation and in foreign countries.

She is the mother of three sons, Mark, Reno, Nevada; Clark, Mesa, Arizona and Scott, Riley, Kansas. She has nine grandchildren. She is also survived by her husband of 58 years; two sisters: Mildred Moores of Wiley, Texas and Leslie Benham of Vernal.

The funeral is scheduled for Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at 11:00 A.M. at the Ashley Valley Funeral Home (410 North 800 West). A viewing will be held 9:45~10:45 A.M. the day of the funeral at the mortuary. Online condolences maybe shared at www.AshleyValleyFuneralHome.com.