Barbara Helene Stafford Comrie, late of Stuart, Wellington and Clewiston, Florida, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 27, 2017 in Stuart, Florida at the age of 88 years. Barbara was born in Bethesda, Md. On February 11, 1929, and is survived by her two daughters, Deborah Cary and Sarah Comrie, son-in-law Kenneth Cary, jr., granddaughters Deborah E. Powell, Leslie Anna Hamilton, Christi Comrie and Paige Comrie, four great grandchildren, all of Florida; and two sisters Patricia Nicholson of Nova Scotia and Sarita Pecknold of Miami, Florida. Barbara was predeceased by her late husband, Walter S. Comrie, to whom she was married for nearly 65 years; two brothers, Richard Charles and Robert Charles, and sister Betty Williams. She was the daughter of Leslie H. Charles and Sarah Kissam Charles, both late of St. Augustine, Florida. While still a toddler she moved with her family to England, where her father was a Major in the British Royal Armed Forces, and served in World War II. Following the war the family moved to Jamaica, B.W.I where Barbara attended Hampton School in Malvern. Barbara and Walter were married at St. Mark's Anglican Church in Mandeville in 1949 and remained in Jamaica until moving to Florida in 1962. The family made Clewiston, Florida their home for several years, where Barbara made her mark as a dance instructor, teaching in both Clewiston and LaBelle; president of the Pink Ladies and sponsored the Candy Stripers at Hendry General Hospital. She was known for her generous donations to the hospital from the proceeds of her dance recitals. After leaving Clewiston for Wellington, Florida, Barbara continued teaching dancing, including ballet, tap and ballroom dancing to all age groups, both male and female, as well as Special Olympics competitors. She also performed and won many awards in ballroom dancing with Fred Astaire Dance Studios, West Palm Beach. She continued her dance school and taught in the Palm Beach County School System before retiring in 2013. Her dance troupe put on numerous performances throughout the county at local veteran agencies and nursing homes. Plans are being made for a Remembrance Service to be held at Palms West Funeral Home in Royal Palm Beach on May 27, 2017. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Callie Elizabeth McKenzie Memorial Scholarship. Make cheques payable to the St. Petersburg College Foundation, P.O. Box 13489, St. Petersburg, Fl., 33733. Please designate the "McKenzie Memorial Scholarship" on your cheque.
