Barbra Elinor Hauser

A celebration of life will be 2 p.m. Jan. 2 for Gardnerville resident Barbra Elinor Hauser, 88, who died of cancer in Carson City on Dec. 14, 2009.

Born July 30, 1921, in Canton, Kan., to John and Bessie Kirkpatrick, she was raised in Lindsborg, Kan., the oldest of eight children.

She spent much of her early years as caregiver to her younger siblings. At the outbreak of World War II, she went to Washington, D.C. to work in the War Department. There, she met and married U.S. Marine Corps pilot William Buskirk. In 1966 she married Gordon Hauser of Santa Ana, Calif. She worked as the secretary to the superintendent of schools. They lived there until moving to Mammoth Lakes in 1971. In the Mammoth Lakes/Bishop area, they worked for Schat's Bakery and owned two Montgomery Ward catalogue stores. At age 65, Mrs. Hauser started a second career as a real estate agent at Coldwell Banker in Bishop. She thoroughly enjoyed this chapter of her life and formed lasting friendships with clients and colleagues. Her fondest memories were about the adventures she and Mr. Hansen had with friends exploring remote regions of California and Nevada.

She moved to Gardnerville in 2002, residing with her daughter and son-in law, Diana and Jack Jacobs, at the old Lampe homestead where she loved frequent visits from family and friends. She lived contentedly with her four-legged pal "Buddy" enjoying the trees, wildlife and beautiful vistas of the Sierra.

She is survived by a son Steven William (Beth) Buskirk; daughter Diana Kay (Jack) Jacobs; brother John (Roberta) Kirkpatrick; sisters Mary Lou Yadon, Sue (Lyle) Gohn; grandchildren James Wheeler of Gardnerville and Katherine Wheeler of Oakland, Calif.

The celebration of life will be at the 1335 Centerville Lane home of Jack and Diana Jacobs. Donations in Mrs. Hauser's name may be made to the Best Friends Animal Sanctuary, American Cancer Society, or the Nature Conservancy.

Capitol City Memorial Cremation & Burial Society was in charge of cremation.