L. Bernadette (Babs) Caley

May 29, 1926 – 

November 28, 2017

L. Bernadette (Babs) Caley, our sweet, beautiful mother, grandmother and great-grandmother left us peacefully on Tuesday, November 28th to be with our Lord in heaven where she belongs.

Born to Lawrence Benedict Brown and Margaret Binkley Brown in Craig, North Dakota. After the death of her husband in 1934, Margaret moved west with her 3 small children where they eventually settled in Ballard.  Babs attended St. Alphonsus Catholic School and Ballard High School where she graduated in 1944. She met her future husband, C. John Caley, at the Ridge Rink when Babs was in her mid teens. They married September 17, 1949. 

Babs is survived by her three children:  Stephen J. Caley (Lynn), Colleen B. Caley Thompson (Rick) and Geoffrey H. Caley (Hollie). Together they gave Babs 9 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. 

Babs and John raised their three children in North Seattle but in 1975 moved to Pine Lake in Issaquah.

After many years of vacationing in Chelan, in 1982 John and Babs purchased a house there for the family to use. Chelan became her Shangri-la. She moved there full-time from 1995 to 2017.  From about 1997 to 2013 she had a companion, Kal Kelley. Babs loved everyone and everywhere we went in Chelan she would be greeted with hugs and love. 

Her family was the most important aspect of her life. Her relationship with her mother was undeniably strong.  She was also devoted to the extended families of her brother and sister. She would often reach out to kids who needed help and she would support their requirements. To give a life of 91 years its justice is impossible.  We will miss her greatly.

A memorial is being planned around Bab’s birthday, Memorial Day weekend at the Lake Chelan Eagles.

Donations can be made to:  St. Francis Catholic Church, PO Box 1089, Chelan WA 98816