Valley County, IDGenWeb Project

Louise Barney

Louise Barney, 89, of Boise and McCall, died April 20, 2011 at her winter home in Yuma, Ariz.

A celebration of life will be jeld at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 11, at her home at 3684 Durham Way, Boise.

She was born in Driggs on June 22, 1921, to Hilary and Dora Barney. She spent her younger years in the Teton Valley.

She graduated from Idaho State College in 1943. Shortly after, she moved to Boise where she spent her entire professional life as a microbiologist for the Idaho Department of Public Health at the central laboratory.

In addition to her work at the state lab she worked nights at St. Luke’s lab and opened the first Laundromats in Boise. The laboratory was for many years located on the fourth floor of the Statehouse, a very interesting location, until a new facility was built on Warm Spring Avenue.

She worked extensively on quality control of hospital labs throughout the state and developed the training program for Simplot’s first frozen potatoes product line. In the early years she was involved in improving the welfare of public employees.

She helped found the state employees association, the Idaho State Employees Credit Union and the Idaho ZPG Chapter.

She retired in 1975 and moved to McCall for the summer months and wintered in Yuma Ariz. She was an avid outdoorswoman expecially enjoying hunting and fishing at any opportunity.

She was a lifelong advocate of animals (dogs, cats and wolves). While in McCall she was an active founder and member of the MCPAWS Regional Animal Shelter. Recently in Yuma, she was a major contributor to the Humane Society of Yuma to their Spay and Neuter Clinic as well as the construction of their new facilities.

Donations in her memory can be made to: MCPAWS in McCall, Humane Society of Yuma and Idaho Humane Society of Boise.

Louise is survived by a longtime companion and adopted daughter, Sylvia Burkey of Boise, and very dear friends Connie Colerick, Diane Barone and Francis Carlsson, all of Boise.


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