Barbara (Jost) Tryon, age 92, passed away peacefully at her home July 25, 2019, surrounded by her family and Taffy, her beloved golden retriever.
She was born Jan. 5, 1927, in Mount Vernon, New York, the daughter of Dr. Theodore A. and Elsie Archer Jost. The same year, her family built a house at Lake Garfield in Monterey, where she spent her summers growing up. During college at Syracuse University, she worked on a farm in New York state, where she fell in love with farming and nature. She decided she wanted to marry a farmer. Fortunately, she knew a farmer, Dick Tryon, from her years growing up in Monterey and, in 1948, she and Richard D. Tryon were married. Together they established and ran a dairy farm at Lowland Farm in Monterey, restoring a 1786 Colonial farmhouse in the process. While raising their five children, she earned a degree in education and then taught fourth grade at the Stockbridge Plain School for 20 years, retiring in 1987. She served on the Monterey Planning Board from the time of its creation for 25 years. She was a founding member, docent and trustee at the Bidwell House Museum for many years, and a dedicated member of the Monterey Historical Society. She loved to knit and sew, and became an accomplished quilter. Barbara will be remembered as a wonderful cook, gardener, bridge player, avid reader and patron of the Monterey Library. She traveled extensively with Richard and with friends to Africa, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, the Caribbean Islands, Mexico, Galapagos Islands, and throughout the United States and Hawaii.
She is survived by her husband and their five children: Cynthia (Robert) Hoogs of Monterey, Linda Pilloud of Switzerland, Richard “Delmor” (Susan) Tryon Jr. of North Andover, Roger (Katherine) Tryon of Monterey, and Elizabeth (Grant) Sorlie of Kalispell, Montana; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Theodora Batacchi of Sheffield. Another sister, Adelaide Prezzano, predeceased her.
The family is grateful to HospiceCare in the Berkshires and Home Instead Senior Care for the wonderful care and assistance these organizations gave to Barbara and her family during the past months.
A memorial service celebrating Barbara’s life will be held Thursday, Aug. 1, at 1 p.m. by Rev. Elizabeth Goodman at the Monterey United Church of Christ, the same church where Barbara and Richard were married. Burial will follow at Corashire Cemetery in Monterey. Contributions in Barbara’s memory may be made directly to the Monterey United Church of Christ or to the Bidwell House Museum. Remembrances may be sent via www.finnertyandstevens.com.
