Barbara Bayley Drew
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Barbara Bayley Drew passed away peacefully at Martin Memorial Hospital South in Stuart, Florida, at 8:30 p.m. on Super Bowl Sunday, February 7, 2021. She was comforted by the presence of her husband, John, and their three children, Chris, Dave and Katy. Barbara was born on January 4, 1943, at the Brooklyn Naval Hospital in New York, the second child of Dorothy Smith Bayley and George Townsend Bayley. Barbara's father was serving as an officer in the Navy when Barbara was born. Barbara's mother, Dorothy, was the second of four children of Evelyn and Francis Marion Smith (F.M. Smith was also known as "Borax" Smith, of Twenty Mule Team fame), of Oakland, California, and Shelter Island, New York.
Barbara grew up in Garden City, New York, spending summers at the family's home on Smith Cove at Shelter Island, New York, where she enjoyed crabbing, water skiing, swimming and sailing in her lightning sailboat. Barbara was a natural athlete and if women had been able to participate in team sports when she was growing up she would have been a star performer, following in her father's footsteps. On December 31, 1957, five days before her fifteenth birthday, Barbara met her future husband, John Drew, at a New Year's Eve party. Barbara and John were married on June 15, 1963 and celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary last year.
In 1967 Barbara and John moved to Avon, Connecticut where Barbara devoted herself to raising her children. She was the consummate housewife greeting the kids off the bus, helping them with their homework, attending hundreds of sporting events and making sure they had a family meal together at the end of the day. Barbara also loved having a house full of children and her home was a frequent gathering place for the neighborhood kids. Reflecting back upon those days, Barbara's children are so appreciative of the sacrifices that she made for them and the daily love and support that she provided to them.
Barbara and John joined the Golf Club of Avon in 1969 where they made many friends at the pool and playing tennis, paddle tennis and golf. Barbara was the only woman to win club championships in all three sports. She had three holes in one during her golf career. In 1996 Barbara and John purchased a small home at Piper's Landing Yacht and Country Club in Palm City, Florida. Barbara threw herself into the community at Piper's Landing and developed many strong friendships over the years and won even more club championships in golf.
As she was raising her children and participating in a variety of athletic events, Barbara developed an exquisite sense of style that she displayed in her personal appearance and in decorating her homes in Avon and Palm City. Barbara was also a voracious reader of novels and was a member of multiple book clubs. She also enjoyed needlepointing and stamping and gifting friends and family the results of her efforts. Whatever activity Barbara undertook her intention was to do it to the best of her ability. Barbara also loved to travel and was able to visit Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia. Of course, her favorite destination was to go back to Shelter Island, where she has been celebrating family reunions with her husband, children, grandchildren, brother, nephew and grandniece for over a decade. That tradition will continue this upcoming summer when her family will reconvene to celebrate her life and spread her ashes in the waters of Smith Cove.
In October of 2012 Barbara suffered a devastating stroke that included a substantial brain bleed. She survived a three-hour operation and was able to have a reasonably normal life for more than eight years. While the stroke compromised her ability to communicate her thoughts, she still had her beautiful smile and laugh and loved to be around her family and friends. As John likes to say, she never took a bad picture, only good and great ones. Barbara lived a life that mattered and she will be long remembered by her family and friends for her beauty, her thoughtfulness, her grace, her style, her sense of humor, her competitive spirit, and the way that she put all that she had into everything she did.
Barbara is survived by her husband, John; son, Chris, his wife Katie Martin, and sons, Carson and Brian, and their host son, Kenny, of Simsbury, Connecticut; son, Dave, his wife Evelyn, and their children, William, Ellie and Zachary, of Wilton, Connecticut; and daughter, Katy, and her twins, Teddy and Fynn, of Avon, Connecticut. Also surviving are Barbara's brother, Bob Bayley, and his wife, Shirley; her nephew, Ryan Bayley, his wife, Alicia, and their daughter, Gwendoline; and countless cherished friends.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there are no plans for a in person memorial service. However, we are considering the possibility of having a virtual service in April. For a more descriptive obituary and an expression of online condolences, please visit www.foresthillspalmcityflorida.com.