Barbara Jean Spencer

November 27, 2020

Barbara Jean (Jacobs) Spencer, passed away peacefully on November 27, 2020. She was 85. Barbara was born in Clinton, North Carolina, to Frank Jacobs and Bertha (Royal) Jacobs. She was the second youngest of four sisters. Barbara’s first job in high school was scooping and serving frozen treats at her hometown ice cream parlor.She graduated from Sampson High School in Clinton, NC, where she was talented majorette. She continued her education at North Carolina Central University. A few years later, she met a soldier, Cecil Spencer, who was stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina. The couple fell in love, eloped, and moved across the country to Oregon. They had three children: Marcelena, Jeffrey, and Joy. Barbara was a stay-at-home mom for several years before joining the workforce. She spent more than two decades with the Internal Revenue Service. She retired from the IRS as Equal Employment Opportunity Officer for the Western Region. After retirement she embraced her passion for fashion and style, working part-time at Nordstrom. Barbara was an extremely loving and dedicated mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She devoted much of her time and energy to her one and only grandson Jacob, who she adored endlessly. Barbara loved to travel. Italy, China, and Egypt were among her favorite destinations, as well as annual summer trips to her beloved hometown in North Carolina. She was an avid bird watcher and loved country music. Barbara will be remembered for her kindness, grace, compassion, generosity, impeccable taste, quick wit, and affable sense of humor. She was an active member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, a U.S.-based international women's organization with a primary focus on providing educational opportunities for female students worldwide. Barbara is preceded in death by her husband Cecil, and son Jeffrey. She is survived by her two daughters, Marcelena Spencer and Joy Spencer; grandson Jacob Spencer; sister Ruby; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to Oregon Episcopal School, 6300 SW Nicol Road, Portland OR 97223, or https://www.oes.edu/support-oes/make-your-gift; or to P.E.O. Foundation, c/o Margaret Garrett, 19472 Olson Avenue, Lake Oswego 97304. P.E.O. donations will be directed to a scholarship fund in Barbara’s honor.