It was a beautiful day in Seattle on September 27, 1945, when Letitia Victoria Baar was born to her architect father, Edward Joseph Baar, and her artist mother, Mary Louise Barnum. Leti spent her childhood protected by her mother’s love, like when she was rescued after her older brother, Joseph Barnum Baar, held her head under water to learn if, at the age of 3, she could make noise while submerged. It turns out she couldn’t, but also irrepressible was her undaunted sense of self.
Leti was 16 when her beloved mother passed away. Her brother had left home and her father soon remarried, leaving Leti bereft. Out of her grief, Leti learned that family bonds can also be forged. After earning a degree in geography from the U. of Washington, Leti came home to the parents of her best friend, Elen McConnell Wright. Leti never married, remaining in Seattle with her new parents raising championship Great Pyrenees, exploring national parks, hiking the mountains of the Pacific Northwest, and taking countless photos. Leti was devoted to them, caring for them in unfailingly until their deaths.
Leti let her acerbic veneer test who could see her tender heart. Once close, she loved freely and her quiet generosity was legendary. For those in pain, her sympathy lasted about 15 minutes and then it was time to “get over it,” which we all did, buoyed not only by her rapid-fire one-liners, like, “Who let you in?”, but also because she modeled her creed to live in a contented present, rather than muse about the past.
From collecting stamps to genealogy, Leti was a skilled researcher. For family and friends, she spent months compiling multi-generational family histories into books, with newspaper clippings, maps, and records. She was the ultimate family memory keeper.
Leti also held dear her brother and his wife, Suzanne Lammers, and her cousins, Judy Hale, Nancy Miles, and Debra McCarver.
Leti lived the last of her life surrounded by family. A woman of devout faith, she was asked who she was most excited to see in the next life. Without hesitation, she said, “My Mom.” On July 30, 2022, Letitia Victoria Baar left her family here to see her mom.
A celebration of Leti will be held August 13, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. For street address and/or zoom link, please RSVP to leslie@olson-olson.com.
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