She was born July 24, 1929, in Grampian, Pennsylvania, a daughter of the late Boyd and Grace (Anderson) Hess. She graduated high school in 1948 in West Pittson, Pennsylvania.
She married Carl Eastwood Gullans on May 20, 1950. They lived several years in his hometown of Branford, Connecticut. In 1962, they moved to Maine, then moved back to Connecticut before returning to Sanford in 1990.
Barbara loved music, and was choir director for her church for many years. She loved art and poetry, and wrote several beautiful, thought-filled poems. She also enjoyed researching genealogy.
She was proud of her work in the Plus Literacy Program, and also proud that she worked the polls for nearly 25 years.
Her family was very important to her, and she loved family gatherings. She had a great sense of humor, and could find the funny side of many situations. Even when her health was failing, she was making us smile with her wit.
Barbara was preceded in death by: her parents; her husband, Carl, who died in 2007; her brother, Franklin Hess; two grandchildren, Heather Gailloux and Jeremiah Cedeno; and a niece, Kristen Hess.
She is survived by: four daughters, Sara-Jo (Walter) Libby of North Carolina, Lynda (David) Ginchereau of Sanford, Eileen (William) Murphy of Hollis, and Bonnie (Luis) Cedeno of Pennsylvania; a son, Eric Gullans of Boise, Idaho; a sister, Janet Hess Holznagel of Meriden, Connecticut; a brother-in-law, Robert Gullans of Branford, Connecticut; 14 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 3, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, located on Westview Drive in Sanford. Burial will follow at Oakdale Cemetery.
Those planning an expression of sympathy are asked to consider donations in her memory to: American Cancer Society, 1 Main St., Topsham, ME 04086, or: American Lung Association, 122 State St., Augusta, ME 04330.
Arrangements are under the direction of Carll-Heald & Black Funeral Home, 580 Main St., Springvale. Condolences may be expressed at blackfuneralhomes.com.
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