Jobelle Huntington

After 88 memorable years, Jobelle Huntington passed away peacefully in her sleep on the morning of March 8, 2019 in Aurora, Colorado. She was caring, loving and thoughtful. She was also strong, sassy and opinionated. She was a special woman whose imprint will remain on the hearts of her family and friends.

Born Jobelle Anderson on February 10, 1931 in Kansas City, Kansas, she was the fourth of eight children for parents Ralph Anderson, a carpenter, and Vada Rea Anderson (née Baldwin). The family lived in a few locations in Missouri as she grew up, including a period living on a farm in a log cabin near Osceola that provided some of her most vivid childhood memories.

Her family had returned to Kansas City by the time Jobelle met Robert (Bob) Don Huntington, who she would marry at the age of 17 on July 31, 1948. The first of their six children, son Robert II (or Robby), was born almost exactly one year later and followed over the next 11 years by daughters Pam, Dora and Debbie and then sons Tim and finally Curtis. The family relocated from Kansas City to Aurora, Colorado in 1966. Jobelle spent the rest of her life in Aurora, sharing a home with Tim and then Debbie after she and Bob were separated.

Her first job was at Meyer’s Ice Cream Parlor in Kansas City when she was 15. In addition to the demands of being a homemaker and mother of six, she went on to work numerous jobs in her adult life. One of her favorites was at the Sunshine Biscuit Company, where she helped package cookies and other baked goods for a number of years. To the delight of her young children, she often brought home extra cookies that were broken or could not be packaged. Following the move to Colorado, she worked primarily in housekeeping and cleaning, spending 23 years at Bethesda Hospital in Denver before retiring in the late 1990s.

Jobelle loved the outdoors. On frequent camping trips to the mountains, she could be found hiking, fishing and seeking out unique rocks (a hobby she picked up from her mother). At home, she spent many hours gardening, watching birds and swinging on the porch in her backyard. She enjoyed drawing, embroidery, collecting dolls and pins. She also collected recipes and loved cooking and baking. Her kids rave about her homemade divinity, peanut brittle and apricot horns.

Most of all, Jobelle was devoted to her family. She took her greatest joy in always being there for her kids and grandkids whenever she was needed. “Grandma Jo,” as she was largely known by the extended family, was ready to help out in any way possible and seldom said “no” when asked for a favor. She was a strong, independent woman even in a time when those qualities were less common. Never bashful about giving her two cents, she was considered something of a matriarch by many family members and stayed true to herself throughout her life.

Jobelle is survived by a large family that continues to grow, including all six of her children, 13 grandchildren, 27 great-grandchildren (with another on the way) and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, all seven of her siblings (Gene, Jay, Russ, Irene, Hilda, Sam and Roberta) and grandson Tommy. She will be fondly remembered by all those whose lives she touched.