Obituary of Barbara Ayers Haslam

Barbara Ayers Haslam died peacefully, with her family at her side, on February 3, 2009. She was 74. Born in Morristown, NJ, she was the daughter of the late C. Freeman and Joan Peacock Ayers. She was a lifelong resident of Mendham. She received her BA degree in Fine Arts from Colby College, in Maine. She was a creative and talented artist, well known in the area for her watercolors depicting local scenes. She shared her talents by teaching children's art classes, founding the St. Mark's Church Art Show and being a member of the Somerset Art Association for many years. She was executive assistant for 20 years at Polyconomics in Morristown, NJ, enjoying all aspects of the education that position brought her, until her retirement in 2000. She was an active, lifelong member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Mendham. She was a recent member of the Mendham Garden Club, an avid tennis player and enjoyed time spent with family and friends in Maine. A devoted, involved and beloved mother and grandmother, she is survived by her two daughters, Susan McClure and her husband Stewart of Mendham, Carrie Vallacchi and her husband Rick of Mendham, her son, David W. Haslam of Warren, Pa., her brother F. David Ayers and his wife Peggy of Biddeford, Maine, her aunt, Dorothy Ayers Milton of Stuart, Florida and her four grandchildren, Alexandra and Parker McClure and Daniel and Bradley Vallacchi. Visitation will be held on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9 pm at the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Road, Mendham. Funeral service will be Saturday at 12 noon at St. Mark's Church, Mendham. Interment will be private. For more information please visit www.baileyfuneralhomes.com In lieu of flowers, donations in Barbara's memory can be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 9 East Main Street, Mendham, NJ 07945 or the Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, c/o Morristown Memorial Health Foundation, Inc., PO Box 1956, Morristown, NJ 07962.