Sally Jean (Stapley) Barnes, 70, of Columbia Falls, passed away Friday, April 23, 2010, after a short battle with cancer in Kalispell. Sally was born on Dec. 27, 1939, in Libby to Loran Red and Dolly Stapley. On Jan. 7, 1958, she married the love of her life, Anson E. Barnes, in Kalispell. They were blessed with two sons. She was a faithful member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Vista Chapter No. 44. She will be greatly missed by all those she loved and those who loved her. Sally gave from her heart with her whole heart, and is remembered by family and friends as always having an open door to everybody, taking everyone at face value. Young and old were touched by her caring and giving. She was second Mom to many of her children s and grandchildren s friends. She loved animals of any kind. Her family likes to tell stories of the deer and skunk that she had as pets when she was a child. She enjoyed life. Sally had a soft and generous heart. She was a lesson in unconditional love and never had a bad thing to say about anybody. Sally was an amazing artist who loved to share her gift with others. Whether painting, drawing, baking or sewing, Sally showed remarkable talent. She won blue ribbons at the county fair for her paintings and photographs. She had sketchbooks full of drawings from her life. She loved to bake and made beautiful cakes, especially for weddings and other special occasions. She sewed amazing dresses, kept her family clothed in shirts and coats that were made with love, and she sewed realistic, lifelike puppets of birds and wild animals of the Northern Rockies. The puppets and miniature replica mounts have been sold internationally. Sally was preceded in death by her parents, Loran Red and Betty Stapley, and Dolly Lecount; two infant sons; her mother-in-law, Vivian Barnes; and many other members of her extended family. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Anson Barnes; two sons Wendell Barnes and Nona of Clinton, and Harley Barnes and Tanya Luchi of Columbia Falls; four brothers, Steve Stapley and Susan of Columbia Falls, Steve Lecount of Columbia Falls, Terry Lecount and Peggy of Eureka, and Mike Lecount of Troy; four grandchildren, AJ and Chantel Barnes of Columbia Falls, and Zoey Gerber and Aleena Stevens of Corvallis; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones, including aunts, uncles and family members from the Fredenberg side of her family.