Alan Lawrence Barer

Alan Lawrence Barer was born on Sept. 26, 1929, in Walla Walla to Israel and Esther (Mozorosky) Barer.
He attended Green Park Elementary school. He was a 1947 graduate of Walla Walla High School where he played on the football team. He went to the University of Washington, and was a member of the Sigma
Alpha Mu Fraternity. He earned a degree in business administration.
He served in the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant during the Korean Conflict. After briefly working in the Bay Area, he returned to Walla Walla where he joined his father and uncle in the family business, B.
Barer And Sons, an industrial supply and scrap metal dealership named after Alan’s grandfather. He married Jean Granek of Walla Walla in 1956. They raised four children in Walla Walla.
Alan was active in Kiwanis, Toastmasters, Rotary, The Little Theatre, the Pioneer Village, and the Democratic Party. The family were members of Congregation Beth Israel of Walla Walla.
Upon the death of his father, Alan bought his father’s interest in B. Barer And Sons, in partnership with his uncle, David Barer. Soon after, Alan faced his wife’s illness, the progression of his mother’s Alzheimer’s disease, uncle Dave’s heart problems, and the various challenges of raising a family. He handled it with a steady hand and a smile.
He loved joining a group of fellow community leaders for morning coffee at the Red Apple.
After his wife’s passing in 1997, Alan made plans to sell the business and retire. He met Regina “Jean” Austin through mutual friends. They married in January of 2000 and Alan moved to Kirkland. They enjoyed world travel. They also purchased a winter home in Rancho Mirage, Calif. Alan enjoyed morning walks with friends. The couple were members of Herzl Ner Tamid Congregation in Mercer Island. He also wrote a blog telling about memories of growing up in Walla Walla and family history. He had a love for classic cars Alan is survived by wife, Regina Austin-Barer; his brother and sister-in-law, Arnold and Carol Barer of Bellevue; son and daughter-in-law, Mike and Debra Barer of Maple Valley; son and daughter-in-law, Dan and Amy Barer of Los Angeles; and son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Dawn Barer of Walla Walla; daughter, Raychel Gray of Bothell; and son, Mitch Gray of Portland. He is also survived by grandchildren,
Alyssa Gray, Naiomi Gray, Chad Cole, Cameron Cole, Carissa Cole and Clare Gabriel; and great grandchild, Chloe Gray; cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Alan is preceded in death by daughter, Debbie “Terri” Barer.
Graveside service will be March 25, at 1:30 p.m. at Mountain View Cemetery, Jewish section. Lay leader Richard Kaplan will officiate. Memorial contributions may be made to Jewish Family Services of Seattle.
Friends and family are invited to sign the online guest book at www.herringgroseclose.com.