AMHERST, Barbara Adams Tiffany, a life-long resident of Amherst, died July 4th, 2014.  She was 94 and a half years young.

Barbara was born December 31, 1919 in Springfield, to Clifford and Alice Tiffany, and was a 1937 graduate of Amherst High School.  Barbara worked for Schoonmaker Egg Farms in South Amherst supervising the chick incubators.  It was Mr. Schoonmaker who taught Barbara to drive.  In 1956 she began working at Amherst College in the Biology Department under Phil Ives, assisting with his research on fruit flies.  In 2006 she retired from Amherst College after 50 years, making her the longest employee in the school’s history.

Barbara was a champion bowler, a member of 4 bowling leagues spanning a period of 40 years.  In that time, she won a remarkable 118 bowling trophies! Generations of South Amherst residents will remember Barbara’s participation in the 4^th of July Parade and picnic since she was a young girl. In 1968, she was retired as the “All-Time Ladies Nail Driving Champion”, an event she dominated for decades. An avid bird watcher and member of the Hampshire Bird Club, memorable trips took her to Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Arizona, throughout New England and to her favorite Monhegan Island.

Barbara was a life-long member of South Congregational Church in South Amherst, which she lovingly referred to as her family.  On June 15, 2014, the church honored Barbara’s membership in the Choir for an astonishing 79 years.

Barbara’s legacy is a life of faith expressed through her daily actions:  hard work, dedication to family and church, humility, courage and quiet dignity.

Barbara is survived by her sister-in-law Gloria Tiffany, and niece Tracey Tiffany, both of Springfield.  Barbara will be missed and remembered by her many friends at South Church, in the greater Amherst community and by all those whose lives she touched.

Calling hours will be Thursday, July 10, from 5-7 p.m. at the Douglass Funeral Service, Amherst. A graveside service will be Friday, July 11, at 10:00 a.m. in South Amherst Cemetery. Friends are invited to a lunch at 11:15 a.m followed by a Celebration of Barbara’s life at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, July 13, both events will be at South Congregational Church. Obituary and memorial register at www.douglassfuneral.com.

Service details, Social networking, Memorial Guestbook and Slideshow are available here.