Barbara Barton Person's Obituary
Barbara Barton Person
I lived, I laughed, I loved. That is all the needs to be said but my daughter said I had to write my obituary so here we go.
I was born January 6, 1948 in Denver, Colorado as part of the baby boom born between WWII and the Korean War, neither of which I remember! I joined Jerry the love of my life in the next life on December 18, 2024. My dad and mom, Harry and Janet Barry Barton led a military life and my sister Betsy and I were Army brats who loved the life. I learned security is not a place, nor a house, nor a bank account but it is family. We had many road trips traveling the US with games, songs, poems and conversation – not an electronic device in sight! Whether we hauled the 16 foot trailer or stayed in motels we learned a lot about tolerance, acceptance, understanding, and learning to love each other no matter the obstacles.
Jerry Mellen and I had a his-mine-our blended family. Gary, Todd, Neccole, Jerad, Noah, Christian and Serene gave many a moment of “He/she did what? WHY? Was anyone hurt?” They also gave us many a moment of “Ah, look at that isn’t that cute, wonderful, inventive, talented, superlative, better than anyone else has ever done/looked/acted”. They brought husbands, wives, girlfriends and boyfriends into the family to make our lives richer. The best they gave was our grandkids Tyler, Tim, Thomas, Deja, Dallon, Tasha, Devin, Kylie, Christian (yes, we had two Christians) and Kamden; then the icing on the cake, the great-grands which Jer only loved from his next home. The first of which was Kira Lynn, Deja’s daughter. Sadly Kira was taken from us when she was five months in the same year as her birth 2013. The second is also a girl Paizlee Athena, Tasha's daughter, in 2016. The third is a boy, Grayson Lee, Tyler's son in 2017. The fourth is a girl, Lillydian Amore, Thomas' daughter in 2019.
I loved Christmas, the decorations, the lights, the music, the food, the family, all of it, especially the hours of making cookies with Serene, Tasha, and Kylie to give as gifts. I hope the tradition is carried on by Beaner and her girls.
I am not intending to be flippant about death nor am I trying to make it a big joke. It is a serious event in the lives of those that pass on and those that are left behind. I would like my family to remember me with a smile on their faces and faith in their hearts. I would like them to continue to live their lives in tolerance, acceptance, understanding and loving in spite of the missteps that families can make.
My family would like to extend a special thank you to the Jordan Valley Medical Center ED, ICU, and Med Surg for the care and love the they provided me in my last week. Also, a special thank you to Inspiration Home Health & Hospice for the comfort, care and love they provided myself and my family in my last days.
My family wants you to join them at a later date and lift a glass and have a bite to eat in my memory.
Be still. Close your eyes. Breathe.
Listen for my footfall in your heart.
I am not gone but merely walk within you.
What’s your fondest memory of Barbara?
What’s a lesson you learned from Barbara?
Share a story where Barbara's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Barbara you’ll never forget.
How did Barbara make you smile?