Barbara Jean Martell

Barbara went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on March 4th, 2018 after a lengthy but brave battle with cancer.  She was born November 7, 1949 in Chewelah, Washington to Walter and Fern Seibel.

Barbara grew up in Caldwell, Idaho and graduated from Caldwell high school in 1968. She attended Boise State and received her bachelors degree in Education. She taught Home Economics in Homedale, Idaho for eleven years and later worked at Mercy Medical Center in Nampa, Idaho as a Nutritionist. She then went back to school and earned her masters degree in Counseling at The College of Idaho. She worked as a counselor for Nyssa High School in Nyssa, Oregon until she retired at age 63. 

She married Bob Martell and later divorced.

Antiques were a passion of Barbara’s and she enjoyed making her home and yard feel warm, comfortable, and beautiful for times when she could entertain friends and family with meals she enjoyed cooking for them.  Her cat’s Mitzi, Annie, and Uncle Fungus were her “children”.  Anyone who knew her, knew what a big part of her life they were, and they were spoiled rotten.  She also had a heart for the neighborhood homeless cats, which she fed, sometimes up to seven at a time.

Barbara was a devout Christian, and member of Life Church in Meridian.  She attended prayer groups, Bible study faithfully, and church on Sundays.  She lived her faith.

She was a kind person, who loved her family and friends, and she will be sorely missed by them all.  She is survived by brothers Jim (Marion), Larry, Walt (Sandi), and sister Diane (Chuck), nieces Jami, Lori (Matthew), Amy (Brian), Tonya, Cara (Travis), Sara (Monte), Holly (K.C.), & nephew Cody (Melissa).

Services will be held at Life Church, 3225 E Commercial St, Meridian ID, Saturday, March 10th at 12:00 Noon.

Special thanks to niece Tonya, sister Diane, brother Jim, friends Sharon, Joann, Jolinda, and all the nieces and nephews who helped her through her trying times before her death.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel.

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