Shirley Jo Bartu

SHIRLEY “JO” BARTU July 4, 1929 ˜ July 25, 2025 Our hearts are heavy as we share the news of the passing of Jo Bartu. Our beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother died on July 25, 2025, at the age of 96. Jo was born in Salem, OR, to Opal and Clarence Blaxall. She graduated from Salem High School and Oregon State University with a degree in Home Economics. After graduation, she worked as a home economist and later became a millinery buyer at Meier & Frank. She met and later married for almost 70 years, the love of her life, Gene Bartu. They had two daughters and proceeded to have a fabulous life filled with family and friends in Vancouver, WA. Jo had an infectious personality and an adventurous spirit. She was happiest when connecting with others. She loved hosting and organizing events, anything was a reason to celebrate! Jo’s greatest passion was skiing. For many years she ran the Timberline and later Mount Hood Meadows mid-week ski bus out of Vancouver and Camas. For 10 years beginning in 1982, she recruited her skiers to follow her to Austria on a “See and Ski” trip. Her spirit of adventure would also lead Jo and Gene to touring and cruising 54 countries around the world. Jo was a member of Gamma Phi Beta at OSU. A 53-year member of Royal Oaks, a Children’s Hospital Guild member, part of the Knit Wits club, and skied until she was 75 years old. With all her activities and events, she often said that her greatest accomplishment was her family, and she cherished every moment spent with them. She is survived by her two daughters, Terri (Chuck) and Cindy (Rick); four grandchildren, Chris (Skye), Phil (Jackie), Andrea (Ryan) and Ashley (Marshall); and five great-grandchildren, Sofia, Harlow, Payton, Charlotte and Rowan. Loved beyond words and missed beyond measure, her memory will forever be cherished. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Mount Hood Kiwanis Camp for individuals with developmental disabilities. Donate online at MHKC.org or by mail to 10725 SW Barbur Blvd., Ste 50, Portland, OR 97219. A Celebration of Life will be held at Royal Oaks Country Club, November 2, 2025, at 1 p.m.

Shirley Jo Bartu

July 4, 1929 - July 25, 2025