BARBARA PETTINGA MOORE SHELBURNE - Barbara Pettinga Moore, 77, passed away peacefully in the Vermont Respite House on Aug. 11, 2010, following a long and dignified struggle with Alzheimer's Disease; she never lost her fascination with the world around her, the joy of human conversation, and especially her love of animals. Barbara was born in West Gorham, ME on Jan. 3, 1933 to the late Francis and Ruth (Watson) Walker. She attended grammar school in a one room schoolhouse and graduated from West Gorham High School, following which she received bachelor and master degrees from the University of Vermont in art education, with emphasis on science. Barbara was an avid artist, photographer, and naturalist, which combined with her respect for wild animals, culminated in a sixteen year career with the National Park Service where she was a ranger at Acadia, Badlands, and her most beloved park, Yellowstone. While at Badlands, Barbara participated in the reintroduction of the black footed ferret. She revered the American Bison and spent innumerable hours following and observing them. Her award winning quilt "Buffalo Magic" is on permanent display at the National Quilt Museum in Peducah, Ky. Barbara's artwork, hand woven birch bark baskets and Christmas ornaments, public presentations, and quilting were always of the highest caliber; she designed and quilted the Vermont Square for the Clinton Whitehouse Christmas tree skirt. Her unique quilts often incorporated her artistic impressions of wildlife, including "Polar Vision" and "Bright Visions," the latter of which was purchased for a private collection. While in Yellowstone, Barbara developed a keen interest in the endangered Grizzly Bear and worked to promote an understanding and respect for this noble animal despite her and her husband, Bob, having suffered a nearly fatal encounter with a mother Grizzly. Her celebrity status with park visitors was overshadowed only by her knowledge of Grizzlies and her own humility. Barbara was instrumental in "Bear! Imagination and Reality," a national traveling exhibit sponsored by the Science Museum of Minnesota. She also created a permanent Grizzly display at Lake Ranger Station in Yellowstone, presented many naturalist talks, and narrated part of "The Grizzlies," a televised 1992 National Geographic special. After retirement, she continued to travel with her husband, Don, often with a focus on wildlife, to places as far flung as Alaska, northern Canada, and the Okavango Delta in Africa. There were of course many trips back to her favorite Yellowstone National Park. On New Years Eve 1952, Barbara married Robert Pettinga, a young Air Force pilot stationed in Maine. Together they raised five children in Vermont. Bob passed away in 1988. She is survived by her husband of 21 years, Donald L. Moore, who has cared for her with grace, maintaining her independence throughout her struggle with the loss of so many cherished memories. In addition, she is survived by two brothers in Mass., Robert Walker and his wife, Sheila, and William Walker and his wife, Carol; eight children and stepchildren, Jerome Pettinga and his wife, Dottie, Kurt Pettinga and his wife, Marcie, Ruth (Pettinga) O'Neill and her husband, Kevin, Kyle Pettinga and his wife, Marilyn, Elise (Pettinga) Brault and her husband, Jim, Mitchel Moore and his wife, Jennifer, Molly (Moore) Osborne and her husband, Andrew, and Caroline (Betsy) Moore-Weaver and her husband, Donald; and thirteen grandchildren, Nicole, Benjamin, Nigel, and Joshua Pettinga; Samuel and Thomas O'Neill; Calvin and Maxwell Brault; Justin Moore and his partner, Airielle; Ashley (Moore) McKenney and her husband, Erik; and Kate, Caroline, and Christa Weaver. There will be a celebration of Barbara's life on Monday, Aug. 23, 2010 at 10 a.m. at the Shelburne United Methodist Church. A private burial will be at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Vermont Respite House, 99 Allen Brook Lane, Williston, VT 05495, in appreciation for their caring and the comfort provided to Barbara and her family.