Barbara Jean Fehl died peacefully at her home on Dec. 14, with family by her side. She was 74.
She was born Barbara McKinnon in Queens, N.Y. to Edythe and Alexander McKinnon. She was raised as one of five children in East Meadow, N.Y., and she graduated from East Meadow High School.
She attended West Virginia Wesleyan College on a cello scholarship and later earned two master’s degrees, one in English from Queens College and one in library science from Rutgers University. She also taught elementary school and worked as a librarian for primary and secondary schools, including Princeton University, as well as public libraries in New Jersey, Virginia and Massachusetts.
Barbara felt a strong connection to her Scottish heritage. She loved music and travel and toured Europe with her collegiate choir. She also performed at Carnegie Hall with Princeton Pro Musica, an ensemble of amateur and professional singers, educators and musicians from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. When she moved to Martha’s Vineyard, she co-founded Island Community Chorus, serving as the group’s first vice president. She continued to play cello throughout her life.
In 1969 she married Gordon Smith. They raised three children together in central New Jersey and spent summers on Martha’s Vineyard. It was during this time that she formed a deep connection with the Island where later, after her marriage ended, she would continue to visit.
During a homecoming weekend at Wesleyan in 1994, Barbara reconnected with former acquaintance and fellow graduate Bo Fehl. They fell in love, married and moved to Oak Bluffs in 1996, where they have lived ever since.
Barbara enjoyed golfing with friends and writing poetry. She self-published two books, East Chop and Wait for Me. She also loved the theater — both as an audience member and on the stage — and performed in a number of local productions.
Her family is grateful to Martha’s Vineyard Hospital for their excellent care of Barbara, both at the end of her life and during the 26 years she lived on the Island.
She is survived by her husband Bo Fehl; her children Scott, Danielle and Ashley; 14 grandchildren; and her brothers Donald McKinnon and Bruce McKinnon. She was predeceased by her siblings Edythe Nelson and Christine Viets,
Her memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 18 at the Trinity United Methodist Church in the Camp Grounds in Oak Bluffs, with pastor Hyuk Seonwoo and Vicki Hanjian officiating.
