Barbara June DeVault Kuechel

Barbara June Kuechel, 81, died Thursday, April 22, 2010, at Yuma Regional Medical Center surrounded by her family. She fought a courageous, three and a half year battle with cancer. She was born on September 29, 1928, in Jacksonville, IL.

At the age of 21, Barbara moved out West to California, where she met and married her husband, George. They had three children and in 1974, the family and its citrus business relocated to Yuma. In 1992, she and George retired and spent part of the year in Flagstaff, Arizona, enjoying cooler summers and the beauty of the outdoors. Barbara's greatest joys in life were being a wife, mother, and grandmother.

Barbara loved sharing time with her family, gardening, and shopping, and was an avid reader. Her favorite pastimes were caring for her pets, dining out, rooting for the Arizona Diamondbacks, crossword puzzles, going to the beach, playing bridge, and volunteering for various causes close to her heart.

During her lifetime, she was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Orange, CA, Calvary Lutheran Church in Yuma, Assistance League of Yuma, Yuma Conservation Garden, and Yuma Golf and Country Club.

Barbara is survived by her husband of 56 years, George; son, Mark (Jennifer); daughters, Becky and Leslie (Robert); three grandsons, Kyle, Matthew, and Connor.

Barbara was preceded in death by her father, Russell DeVault, her mother, June Stewart; her precious dogs, Muffin and Maggie.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, April 27, 2010 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Johnson Mortuary, 1415 S. 1st Avenue. Services will be held on Wednesday, April 28, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at Johnson Mortuary. Final resting place will be at Desert Lawn Memorial Park in Yuma.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Assistance League of Yuma or Hospice of Yuma

Arrangements under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Desert Lawn Memorial Park, Yuma, AZ.