Barbara Jane Evans

Barbara Jane Evans, 89, of Golden, Colorado, passed away peacefully on Mother's Day, May 11, 2025. Barbara was born on September 6, 1935 in Delta, Colorado to Ethel and Kenneth Gray.She attended grade school in Montrose, Colorado, and in 1946 her family moved to Durango, Colorado.She would spend the rest of her young life in Durango, where she attended Smiley Junior High and Durango High School.Her lifelong love of music was fostered in high school where she was head majorette for the marching band, played piano and violin for the orchestra and sang in the choir. Barbara was an especially talented pianist. She could play by ear, and performed on the piano well into her 80’s. She graduated from Durango High School in 1953 and headed north to Fort Collins where she attended Colorado State University and majored in English.She was a very proud member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority where she lived in house for three years, and sang in the CSU mixed chorus that traveled all over the country performing.She later went on to get her Masters Degree from the University of Northern Colorado while working full time, going to school at night and on the weekends.

After graduating from CSU in 1957, she embarked on what would be an incredible 40 year career as an educator, being nominated for Colorado teacher of the year. Her first job was teaching music at Lumberg Elementary School in Edgewater, Colorado, where she prided herself on the musicals that her students performed. She went on to teach english at Seventh Grade Junior High, Lakewood Junior High, and lastly at The Metropolitan Youth Education Center for Denver Public Schools, where she was also night principal.It was here that she spent a majority of her career, teaching kids to read who couldn’t make it in regular public schools because they were considered troubled and unteachable.She cared about these kids and dedicated herself to teaching them to read so that they could ultimately get their GED.She changed lives and gave kids hope when there was none.After retiring from teaching, Barbara went to work for the Foothills Parks and Recreation at the Peak Community and Wellness Center, where she worked until 2010.

Barbara met and married the love of her life, Randall Oliver Hunt on June 28, 1959.They had two children together, Lori Kay Hunt and Bradley Vance Hunt.She was the proud grandmother to eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.She is also survived by her sister Joyce, who was her lifelong soulmate. Barbara was a devoted Christian woman who is now in the loving arms of Jesus.

Barbara will be laid to rest in a graveside service with her family.