Shirley Dolores Barrett Cobb was born July 30, 1935, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She passed away peacefully at her home in Marysville, Washington on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.
She was predeceased in death by her mother Pauline Barrett, father Ted Barrett and daughter Pamela Vincent-Casey. She is survived by her daughter Patricia Perkins, son Kendall Vincent-Cobb, her many grandchildren: Amanda McVay (Tim Nitcher), Emily Fuller (Justin Fuller), Aaron McVay (Nicole McVay) and Mitchell Paulson (Tawny Jonas-Paulson), and her great-grandchildren, Tanner and Grayson McVay and Marley and Ava Fuller. She would be beside herself if we didn’t mention her precious companion and protector, her loyal dog Stella.
Dolores grew up in Oklahoma. While a child she also lived in Mexico City for a period of time.
Dolores excelled in school and sports.
As an adult she moved to Kansas for several years and then back to Oklahoma. While in Oklahoma she married, had her children and attended collage all while carrying a full-time job. In 1963, divorced from her husband, she along with her children moved to Washington state. Washington was where her mother Pauline had been living and owned a restaurant.
Dolores was a fierce and independent woman, a force to be reckoned with. She hit the ground running, a successful businesswoman for over 5 decades.
She moved to beautiful Whidbey Island in 1966 where she took over the family restaurant, Admirals Mistress, purchased two more, The Clinton Coffee Shop and The Langley Café & 2 nd Street Bar in the coming years and successfully operated those for 16 years. She then moved onto a longstanding and very involved political and Real Estate career.
Devoted herself to her community, Dolores was elected Mayor of Langley, Whidbey Island, Washington in 1981 and served until 1987. As Mayor she was recognized for her “Tell it like it is” attitude, greatly improving the infrastructure of the city, led in the establishing of a new boat harbor and numerous utilities improvements on the Island.
Her list of achievements and accomplishments is endless. She served on the Board of Trustees and was also Chairwoman for Skagit Valley CC. She was committee leader and chairwoman of numerous organizations and boards on Whidbey Island.
In 1989 she moved to Grays Harbor and found her home in Aberdeen, Washington. She was a successful Realtor and property manager for two decades, winning Realtor of the Year in 1994 and was president of the Grays Harbor Realtors Association for several years, awarded the Realtors Service Award in 2002.
She didn’t slow down while living in the Harbor. She was on several real estate and political boards and committees, Grays Harbor Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs chairwoman, along with being on the Board of Directors. She was a devoted member of her Church, active in her retirement community and truly valued her friendships and relationships within her work and personally.
Dolores loved nothing more than being a grandmother and was truly blessed to be a great-grandmother. Her family must give the greatest of gratitude and thanks to Dolores’ granddaughter Amanda and her fiancé Tim. In 2020 Amanda took on the most blessed responsibility to care for her aging Grandma.
Dolores had made the choice to leave her beloved Aberdeen to move to Snohomish County and live out the rest of her life closer to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She lived with Amanda and Tim for the last 5 years of her beautiful life. Her days were filled with the best care, love and snuggling her twin great-granddaughters. She was someone to be cherished and treasured and will be missed by her family, friends and endless acquaintances.
A celebration of life and potluck will be held at noon Sunday, Feb. 16, downstairs at the Aberdeen First Presbyterian Church. Please bring your favorite dish and a memory of Dolores to share.
A graveside service will be held on Saturday, March 15, at Bayview Cemetery in Clinton, Washington.
