Barclay Winston Anderson

Barclay Winston Anderson, age 82, passed away peacefully on October 20th, 2023. He was born February 26, 1941, in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, to William and Grace Anderson and was the fifth of six children. His parents were English immigrants to Canada. He was very close to his siblings and enjoyed many family reunions and trips with them.

Barclay loved ice skating in the frozen flooded garden behind his house or on the canals of Creston and continued to be a talented hockey player into his later years. His love of woodworking and the great outdoors began as a boy. He attended Creston Elementary and returned for many reunions. He completed boot camp at Camp Pendleton and served in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves from 1962-1966. Barclay received his Bachelor’s degree in biology at Brigham Young University in 1965.
 
As an avid outdoor adventurer, Barclay skied almost every weekend during college. He was so dedicated to the sport that he often passed on meals so he could use the money to pay for skiing. During the summer and fall, he spent time outdoors rock-climbing. 

While serving as president of the rock-climbing club, he met a cute redhead, Suzanne Marie Fuller, who jumped at the opportunity to be the club secretary when Barclay asked for a volunteer. That was the start of a lifetime of romance and adventure. She was the love of his life. They married on April 19, 1965, in Franklin, Idaho, and were later sealed in the Oakland California Temple on March 30, 1985.

After their marriage, the couple moved to California and Barclay received his teaching credentials from Chico State University where he enjoyed time with his sister Kathy, brother-in-law Lynn and friend Ray.

He spent his professional career at Edison High School in Stockton, California, teaching science and wilderness survival. He was instrumental in bringing a computer program to Edison High and wrote a grant to make Edison into a math and science magnet school. He made a home for many of the kids in his classroom and beyond – always showing love and patience to those he interacted with. He started the first outdoor club at the school and would take his students on many excursions to the mountains where he taught them outdoor skills including rock climbing, hiking, camping, skiing, and winter survival. He taught for over 30 years at Edison High and loved sharing his knowledge with the students there.

He was a hard worker and physically built their own home when they moved to Murphys, California. Tying back to his biology education and interest, he was a dedicated gardener and maintained an orchard of fruit trees. Barclay was passionate about road cycling, white-water kayaking, mountain biking, sea kayaking, cross-country skiing, and wood working. He also worked for Outward Bound, providing outdoor educational programs and experiences to inspire youth to explore their personal potential.

He taught his two daughters, Christine and Heather, a love for nature and exposed them to adventurous outdoor activities like white-water rafting and cross-country skiing. This passion was handed down to his grandchildren as well. Winters and summers included spending time at the family cabin in Soda Springs, California. The whole family enjoyed biking, hiking, skiing, sledding, and swimming in Serene Lakes. His desire to share his hobbies and talents with his children and grandchildren has created special traditions and lasting memories for his family.

After retirement, Barclay and Suzanne moved to Greenville, California, to be closer to family. There he spent hours in his wood shop building handmade, beautiful chairs, coffee tables, end tables and keepsakes. Tandem road biking with Suzanne was a regular activity. He also created a backyard pond for nesting native birds. Many hours were spent quietly watching and admiring nature from their dining room. Retirement allowed the couple to travel across Canada with Barclay’s sisters, house swap in Belgium and Australia, winter in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and experience a guided kayak trip off the coast of Mexico with grandchildren. He loved sea kayaking off the coast of Alaska and Vancouver.

After Suzanne’s passing in 2019, Barclay moved up to Utah and settled in at the Creekside Senior Living facility in Bountiful. He spent the last two plus years of his life dealing with the complications of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s while still living an active life. He participated in daily activities at the facility and continued to road bike as much as the weather would permit. He made many new friends at the center and had a full quality of life until the very end.

Barclay will be remembered for his big heart and sharing his passions with his posterity. From teaching grandchildren to kayak in child-size kayaks, to taking up geo-caching to encouraging them to hike and explore the outdoors, to turning wood on a lathe to make handmade pens – he always showed love for others, for nature and had a profound respect for life in all forms. He loved and he was loved and will be missed by all who knew him. Barclay’s love will carry on in his 6 grandchildren and 1 great-granddaughter.

Services for Barclay will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. in Greenville, California.   Please send flowers for the California services to:  Christine Meyers, 2448 North Valley Road, Greenville, CA 95947.

Condolences may be left in the "Guestbook" on this obituary page.

Link to funeral services: https://youtube.com/live/CNRd8FPHLtI?feature=share