Eva Lechee Barber

Eva Hosteen Lechee Barber of Littlewater, San Juan County, New Mexico was called home by her creator on April 6, 2020. Her joyous entry onto earthly life was on September 25, 1940 to Florence Nilchee Hatali Bitsie Manygoats at Tocito, New Mexico.She succumbed to complications from Meningioma (Brain Cancer) that she fought over 31 years. Her clan: Hooghanlani (Maternal); Tahneeszahnii (Father); Tachiini (Maternal Grandfather); and Tsenaahabilnii (Paternal Grandfather). In 1964, she married Ambrose Barber, of Sanostee and divorced in 2000. They became parents of Dorothy Redhorse, Elouise Barber, Stanley Barber, Cecilia Barber and Ammerson Barber. Her grandchildren: Kimberly Redhorse, Lawrence Redhorse, Robby Barber, Lia Wilford, Alex Barber, Jeremiah Barber, Michelle Barber, and Matthew Barber; and two great-grandchildren. Adopted daughter, Leticia Nunez of Madera, California. Her surviving brothers are Dennis Manygoats and Nelson Manygoats; her nephew Earl Manygoats and her niece Colleen Filbert. She was proceeded in death by her mother Florence Manygoats, adopted father Chester Manygoats, brothers Phillip Manygoats and Jim T. Filbert; and her father Leonard H. Chase. She was listed among the master weavers noted by Toadlena Museum of Rugs. She wove Navajo rugs in unique shapes of circle, square, rectangular, vests and purses with her hand spun wool yarns. She wove some rugs with Chieftain Heads on commission for her late uncle Fred Martin. She raised her own flock of sheep to use for rugs. Her late aunt, Helen Manygoats, taught her to weave rugs at an early age. She was always busy and never idle until her last two years of life when meningioma slowed her down. She tended to her home, family members, livestock, pets, wildbirds, and sewing. After retiring from weaving and raising livestock, she increased non-strenuous activities like her grandchildren’s activities, senior center events, gourd dance, pow-wows, song & dance, gospel music & revival, traditional ceremonies and Native American music festivals. She worked on her giant Word Search books and jigsaw puzzles. She enjoyed watching movies. She made many friends of all ages wherever she went. She hosted college students or interns to stay with her. She enjoyed traveling and eating variety of dishes. She enjoyed travels to Phoenix, Tucson, Utah and Central California. She attended ESL class in California while living with her uncle Warren in her early years. She supported veterans organizations because her son, brother, cousins, and uncles served in the military. Her love was shown through making aprons, skirts or tops to her family or friends who were in need and she did not expect anything in return. She made sure her family or friends who had didn’t have places to eat during holidays to join her at her house or delivered meals to them. Her children did the cooking. When her sister-in-law Arlinda Tyler was chapter official, Eva roasted seven turkeys for community dinner. She used stove ovens and adobe ovens to cook the turkeys. She enjoyed volunteering and working as Foster Grandparent at Sanostee Preschool. She was a member of the Christ the King Catholic Church in Shiprock, NM. She was forever grateful for prayer circles that sustained her through 31 years of fighting brain cancer (meningioma). On April 9, 2020, she will have a private funeral due to COVID 19 regulations. She will be interned at Shiprock Community Cemetery. We extend our appreciation to the staff of Aztec Care Center, Dr. Andrew K. Metzger and staff of Southwest Neurological Associates, staff of SJRMC, Shiprock Chapter, NECA, Elsie Yazzie & Family, Irene Wilson; and to all who made contributions. We are thankful to everyone who greeted and embraced our mother wholeheartedly. Thank you for your love, prayers, support, and encouragement for our mother through her many years of battle with meningioma. We will miss our mother but she has done her work on mother earth.