Barbara Hollon

Barbara Hollon was a wonderful and much loved woman. Her daughters, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, as well as other family members and friends, will miss her dearly but have the joy of knowing she is in a better place.

Barbara was born July 9, 1922 on the Cheyenne Indian Reservation near Lantry, South Dakota. Her parents, Earl Smith and Madge Aurelia Potter homesteaded there. From 15 months old, she grew up in Belle Fourche, SD with two older siblings, Dean and Betty and a younger brother, Buddy (Earl P.) Their childhood had the freedom that children of that generation had as well as the challenges of growing up during the depression. Barbara shared stories of childhood escapades at the local swimming hole and wild adventures she had with her best friend, May Jean Behmyer. At age 14, her family moved to a farm near Clemons, Iowa. Farm life led to cherished stories of all the farm animals and typical teen pranks such as stealing watermelons from a neighboring farmer. Barbara was very active in the small high school she attended; was a good student and played basketball and softball. She always had lots of friends and therefore, fond memories. After graduating from Liberty High School in 1940, Barbara attended Larsen Junior College (now Quinnipiac University) which was for women only and lived with her Aunt Ruth and Uncle Cap. College was an exciting time in her life, filled with dating, dances and proms at Yale and Harvard.

Upon graduation from college, Barbara first worked for Great Western Railroad in Des Moines, Iowa and lived in a boarding house with 20 other girls. In 1944 she visited her brother Dean in Denver, Colorado and fell in love with it. Three weeks later she was living in Denver. Her first job was working on B-29’s at Lowry Field’s Modification Center at the tail end of WWII. She then went to work for the well-known Brown Palace Hotel in downtown Denver. Barbara met her husband, Joseph Ivan (Doc) Gilbert during this time and they were married December 7th, 1946.

Barbara’s family life was nothing if not busy and full. She and Doc had three daughters, Nikki, Peggy and Susan. They eventually settled in Wheat Ridge, CO on Holland Ct. where the girls grew up. Family years were filled with camping and fishing trips, neighborhood parties and lots of activities with friends. Playing bridge was a big part of their social life, but Barbara also loved to go dancing at the Trocadero at Elitch Gardens. She loved music and dance and even took belly dancing lessons in her 40’s.

Barbara also worked full-time. When her girls were young she took summers off, but she had a long career working for Jefferson County. She held various positions in elections, motor vehicle, etc. but the bulk of her career was working as Deputy Jury Commissioner for the courts. During these years Barbara’s family grew, with the addition of two grandsons, Nikki’s sons, Darrin and Justin. She was fully engaged as a grandmother, just as she continued to be with her daughters.

Barbara and Doc moved from Holland Ct. to their dream home in the mountain community, Genesee, in the late 1970’s and thoroughly enjoyed a number of years there. Barbara moved to Lakewood and retired in 1984 when Doc passed away on August from cancer.

Once Barbara retired she played in several bridge clubs, including duplicate bridge. Retirement introduced her to a new passion, golf. She always said she played bridge for her mind and golf for her body. Bridge and golf opened up a new set of great friends and a full social life. She was also a voracious reader, much preferring books to TV or movies. Barbara had always liked to travel, but now had the time to do it right and she took full advantage. She started to travel the world and went to over 50 countries and 6 continents. Travel and exploring the world was indicative of her inquisitive and outgoing personality. She wanted to see and experience it all.

Barbara took on a new adventure when she married John Phillip Hollon on September 28, 1993. John and she had worked together and been friends for many years. They entered into a wonderful married life. They moved to the outskirts of Golden and were extremely happy together and very sweetly referred to each other as Mr. and Mrs. Wonderful. John and Barbara had much in common, including their passion for bridge. John was enticed to travel and even embraced golf at age 71. Golf became a big past time and even a family activity, especially with daughter, Susan. Barbara’s family continued to grow with great-granddaughter Mandi, Darrin’s daughter. In December, 1996, Barbara joined her daughter Susan in Russia to bring home baby Katya (Katerina) who would become a central figure in her life.

Unfortunately John passed on June 25, 1998, but Barbara continued on with a full life of family, friends and activities. Her family grew once more with the addition of Justin and Kerri’s son, Oliver. Barbara continued to play a central role in her family’s lives, often visiting her daughter Peggy in Houston and hosting family gatherings at her home on Joyce Way. She continued to travel extensively and took each of her daughters to the destination of their choice: Nikki to London and Egypt, Peggy to India and Nepal and Susan and Katya to Fiji. Peggy joined her on many of her trips and continues to have the travel bug that Barbara passed onto her.

Barbara sold their home in Golden in October of 2009, recognizing that her memory was beginning to falter and that it was time to lessen the challenges of maintaining a home. She moved to Ft. Collins, CO to be near her daughter Susan and granddaughter Katya. She lived in an apartment at Mackenzie Place and moved into their Memory Care facility in the spring of 2014. Susan and Katya have cherished having her close by.

Mother passed peacefully on January 21, 2015, at the age of 92. She was a friendly, curious, active and generous person. She was outgoing and eager to learn all about you once you met her and was a kind and loving matriarch for our small family. Mom was a rock of support for all of us and championed us all in our lives.

Mom – you will be in our hearts and thoughts forever. We will look to the heavens and know that you can once again be at peace and are joyously reunited with loved ones. Your legacy is one of love and there can be nothing better.

Barbara was preceded in death by:

Parents: Earl Smith and Madge Aurelia Potter

Siblings: Dean Smith, Betty Hurd, and Earl P. (Buddy) Smith

Husband: Joseph Ivan (Doc) Gilbert

Husband: John Phillip Hollon

She is survived by:

Daughters: Nikki Jean Holden, Peggy Ann Gilbert, and Susan Jo Gilbert

Grandchildren: Darrin Walvoord, Justin Walvoord and Katerina (Katya) Gilbert

Great-grandchildren: Mandi Walvoord and Oliver Walvoord

Barbara explicitly requested that she have no service upon her death. Her daughters will celebrate her life privately and among friends in the upcoming weeks.

As you help us to celebrate Barbara’s life and find that you would like to make a contribution you may consider:

Fort Collins Cat Rescue and Spay/Neuter Clinic (In support of Susan and Katya’s involvement with them)

https://www.fccrsnc.org/Donate.php

The Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association http://www.alz.org/co/in_my_community_donate.asp

The best personal tribute will be to raise a glass and toast our wonderful mother, Barbara.