Shanda Barlow

Feb 24, 1989 -

Feb 19, 2024

With heavy hearts, we announce that our daughter, Shanda Janee' Glynn Barlow has left this earthly plane. She passed at home due to an accident. Shanda was born in Anchorage, Alaska, on Feb. 24, 1989, to Dennis and Jana Poirier Barlow at 8:18 a.m. She was highly intelligent and a creative genius. She wrote prolifically, penning many beautiful and heartfelt words to be left behind for us. Her heart was that of a kind and gentle empath. Her art was bold with color and her portraits were finely tuned perfection. Shanda welcomed sisters Amanda and Katie in 2002. She graduated from West High in 2007, and was runner up to win a car for good grades. She attended a temporary program for WAMI in Washington. She had always wanted to be a doctor but life got in the way. Shanda welcomed son Grayson in 2015. She and James moved to Arizona shortly after; they split up but remained friends. Shanda arrived back in Anchorage in 2022 or 2023. A mom's anguish can't remember. Fearing mounting legal issues, she secured passage on a boat. She was always thinking outside the box. She headed directly for a long-term rehab center and checked in. Shanda had been clean for over five months. She had just started a new life with a kind man, a new apartment and job and was expecting a child. It was finally time for her to be happy for the first time in a long time. Unfortunately, she was picked up by the fugitive task force while going to the grocery store and extradited back to Alaska. Shanda was released to wait at home. We only had her for three days before we lost her. As her mother, I know what was in her heart. The fear and anxiety of losing all that she had gained was too much to bear. She sought the only relief that she could in that moment. It cost her her life. Shanda is survived by her parents, Dennis and Jana Poirier Barlow; son, Grayson Jenson; former husband, James Jenson; sisters, Amanda Metivier (Gibby Hernandez), Katie Metivier (Rick Traini); fiance, Thomas Schmidt; aunts, Sherri Poirier, Andrea Irvine; uncles, John Poirier (Teresa ), Joe Poirier (Vicky), Randy Barlow (Gus), Jeff Barlow (Sandy); and numerous cousins and friends. Burial will be in summer 2024 in Wrangell, Alaska. Visitation will be at Witzlaben Legacy Funeral Home on Friday, March 8, 2024, from 2-5 p.m. Anyone may speak at Visitation. Any messages of comfort can be sent to 3820 Borland Circle. We are heartbroken.