Dorothy Alice Barnhill Cleaver, 78

Dorothy Alice Barnhill Cleaver died peacefully on April 14 at her home in Poulsbo following a courageous 20-month battle with cancer of the brain. She was 78.

Cleaver was born on June 5, 1929, in Chanute, Kansas to the late Harvey Delbert Barnhill and Dorothy “Marguerite” Culver Barnhill. She married her high school sweetheart, Willis Cleaver, in Chanute on May 25, 1947.

Cleaver worked for the railroad as a PBX operator until their first child was born. Then she focused on being a dedicated wife, mother, and homemaker. The family moved to Wichita, Kansas in 1956. In 1958, they relocated, first to Silverdale, and then to Poulsbo in 1971.

In 1973, Cleaver and her husband started Cleaver Construction, which built custom homes. Cleaver kept the books at the business until her retirement in 2002.

Cleaver was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother with a devotion to her faith and passion for genealogy, gardening, quilting, cooking and baking. Her assortment of pies have always been greatly anticipated and enjoyed during the holidays.

She and her husband enjoyed snowmobiling in the winter at their Ellensburg cabin and traveling in summer in their motor home.

Cleaver was also an active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She attended the Poulsbo 2nd Ward and was the Genealogy Specialist for the Poulsbo 2nd Ward Family History Center for many years. She also made and organized the making of many quilts for Poulsbo 2nd Ward Relief Society to distribute around the world for those who needed a warm blanket.

Cleaver is survived by her husband Willis; their four children Ron (Reona), Eric (Jill), Paul (Susan), Lisa (Justin); 21 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren, and four great grandchildren due in the upcoming months.

A memorial with a reception following will be April 21 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints building on Mesford Road in Poulsbo at 1 p.m.