Barbara Naumann Cairns

Barbara Cairns, born June 10, 1935, in Wilmington, Delaware, to Joseph and Mildred Naumann, lived a life defined by honesty, resilience, creativity, and deep devotion to her family, friends, and her fur babies.

She met her husband, Irwin “Buzz” Cairns, while working at General Motors in Delaware. They were married on January 18, 1958, and soon after moved to California, where they built their life and raised their children. Barbara made sure she was up every morning at 5:30 a.m. to make Buzz breakfast, followed by breakfast for the kids, and a home-cooked dinner each evening. After Buzz’s passing in 1977, Barbara, at the age of 42, showed incredible strength, raising her children on her own and creating a home filled with love and lasting traditions.

She did not have to work but choose to do so to keep busy but was home by the time the kids were out of school. She took on various jobs, including a typing teacher at a vocational school, administrative assistant at a Jewish temple, and Placement Director at Bryman College. She played bridge often throughout the month and served as a docent at the Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific. She was also a member of the C-300 Club for the Long Beach Grand Prix and a Port Ambassador for the Port of Long Beach, serving many years as the group’s president. One fun highlight was a dating group she co-hosted with a friend at her home, where people gathered to enjoy refreshments, share laughter, and connect.

Barbara was deeply involved in her community, especially through her work with the PTA while her children were young. She served as PTA president and brought families together with her creativity and energy. She was a talented homemaker who found joy in creating—whether through oil and watercolor painting, sewing, crochet, or the many projects that made a house feel like a home. She took pride in crafting stained glass pieces and found peaceful enjoyment in caring for her aquariums and water turtles, always surrounding herself with beauty and life.

Barbara loved entertaining, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. She was a devoted mother and grandmother who showed up for every important moment and created meaningful traditions that will live on.

In her later years, she was diagnosed with dementia and was lovingly cared for by her daughter Bethann and her granddaughter Sarah who came out monthly so she could continue to live out her final days in the home she loved so much. Sarah, Bethann and her good friend Christina were with her when she passed.

Barbara is survived by her sister, Maxine, of Florida; her daughter Bethann (David), of California; her son Curtis (Becky), of North Carolina; and her grandchildren Sarah (David), of Minnesota; Ofu, of North Carolina; Ezuku, of North Carolina; and Onwua, of North Carolina and her fur grandchildren, Chewie, Jasmine and Leia who brought her joy especially in her final days.