Barbara Ann Harrison Sahlie was the only child of Walter White Harrison and Marianne Cooke Harrison. She was born February 18, 1934, in Hickory, N.C. She was the granddaughter of Walter A. Harrison and Neta White Harrison of Asheville, N.C., and Faylah E. Cooke of Valle Crucis, N.C.. Her great grandfather, Robert L. White, was a prominent builder and figure in the Hickory community and was one of the builders of the historic Green Park Inn in Blowing Rock, N.C.

At a young age, Barbara and her family moved to Statesville, N.C., where she attended primary school. They later moved and settled in Charlotte, N.C., where she would eventually raise her family.

Barbara attended Harding High School in Charlotte and graduated in 1952. She attended Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C., where she earned her associate’s degree in Secretarial Science. She was employed by Lance Corporation and Celanese, both in Charlotte. Barbara married M. Lee Quinn in 1957 in Charlotte, and they welcomed two daughters. She later married Richard S. Sahlie in 1970 with whom she shares one daughter.

Barbara was involved in her community in her younger years and participated in her young children’s activities. In the midst of raising her children, Barbara enjoyed playing bridge and was a member of a local bridge club. When her girls were young, she developed a hobby of sewing and would sometimes make clothing for them. She enjoyed creating fun ways to celebrate holidays with her children. Her children remember her dogs and how much she loved them — “Honey” her cocker spaniel, “Beau” her old English sheep dog, and “Duke” her golden retriever. She finally fell for cats when she acquired “Gracie” toward the end of her life.

Barbara also enjoyed cooking for her family, and they especially remember the big after-church lunches she would make and serve on Sundays around the dining table, the loud and big holiday meals, among many other family meals and entertaining, remembering her hard work planning and facilitating her daughter’s wedding at their family home in Myers Park.

Barbara also lived and enjoyed many years with her family in Mendham, N.J., and later in life she split time between the states and her beloved country of New Zealand, where she and Richard owned and operated a bed and breakfast in the town of Geraldine located in the South Island. They had a heart for ministry and later donated the home to Capernwray. Barbara saw a lot of the world through travel with Richard and her friends, many parts of Europe and Asia, Australia and New Zealand. And several parts of the US with her mother, friends, husband, and daughters. She lived a good life.

In her elderly years, before returning to Charlotte to be closer to her children, Barbara lived in her charming Blowing Rock, N.C., home that she lovingly renovated over the years. She truly found Blowing Rock and the people to be special and where she happily called home.

Barbara loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and was active in a church community wherever she lived. She was a member of The Church at Charlotte in Charlotte and Mendham Hills Chapel in Mendham, N.J. She also attended Calvary Church in Charlotte, her fellowship church in Timaru, New Zealand, and Mt Vernon Baptist Church in Boone, N.C.

Barbara spoke of the love and saving grace of Jesus Christ to anyone she came into contact. It was her hope and desire that her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren would know and love and seek to follow Christ and be his disciples. She loved the 23rd Psalm and the hymn, “To God be the Glory.”

Barbara fought the good fight and went to her heavenly eternal home peacefully on the night of January 6, 2025, just shy of her 91st birthday. Her family will greatly miss her.

She is survived by her three daughters, Mary Shannon Quinn and Kelley Quinn Barrack (Ted), both of Charlotte, and Ginny Sahlie Miller (Grant) of Troutman, N.C.; 13 grandchildren, Sarah Akromas, Charles Buonopane (Mackenzie), Marianne Buonopane, Sophie Barrack Thomas (John), Blythe Barrack Mundlin (Jonathan), Mary-Scott Barrack McEntire (Tyler), Harrison C. Barrack (Paige), Tucker F. Barrack (Makaela), Jesse A Hooks, Grant Miller, Gabe Miller, Grayson Miller, and Griffin Miller; and 10 great grandchildren, Jameson Thomas, Julian Thomas, Simon Thomas, Claire McEntire, Summer Mundlin, Nora Quinn Barrack, Wesley Buonopane, Kelley Mundlin, Lowery McEntire, and Baylor Barrack.

She was preceded in death by her parents, as well as Lee Quinn and Richard Sahlie.

Funeral services will be held at 12 noon on Saturday, January 18, at the chapel of Cavin-Cook Funeral Home. Burial will follow the service at 2 p.m. at Oakwood Cemetery in Hickory.

Cavin-Cook Funeral Home & Crematory, Mooresville, is serving the Sahlie family. Condolences may be made to the family at www.cavin-cook.com.