Barbara J Tyler

Barbara Tyler, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully on Monday, February 20, 2023 in Windsor, CO.

 

Barbara was born to John and Beth Green on July 7, 1935 in Pueblo, CO. The family moved to Fowler CO in 1937.

 

She graduated from Fowler High School in 1953 and then attended CSU (then Colorado A&M) where she graduated with a BS in Home Economics in 1957. Her college notebook is still used as a reference for a family recipe for Peanut Brittle! She was a member of Delta Zeta sorority and built some lifelong friendships there. She was a member of the synchronized swim club in college and always loved being in the water!

 

Barb knew Henry from high school—she remembers him as the new kid from Texas wearing yellow boots. Their first date was to the State Fair in Pueblo. Their relationship deepened while they both attended CSU and they were married September 8, 1957 after she graduated college. She worked at both a jewelry store and a music store in downtown Ft. Collins after they were married until Henry graduated and they moved to Longmont for his first job as an engineer.

 

Their first daughter Cydney was born in Ft. Collins and their second daughter Carla was born in Longmont. Their third child, Clint, was born in Great Bend, KS.

 

Henry’s career took them to jobs around the US including Los Alamos, NM and Great Bend, KS and overseas to Yokohama, Japan. The first 6 weeks in Japan were spent living at the Yokohama Prince Hotel while they searched for a house to live in. Barb wrangled the kids ( at ages 10, 6 and 3) by herself while Henry settled into his new job. While living in Yokohama, they joined the country club and Barb took classes in wood carving where she made and lacquered a jewelry box, bowl and trays. She also learned Ikebana flower arranging which gave her a lifelong love of flowers and arrangements. While in Japan, they took several trips to other exotic places like Hong Kong, Taiwan, Macau, South Korea, and twice to Guam where Barb could buy American-made shoes because she couldn’t find shoes in Japan for her narrow feet.

 

They returned to Fowler in the 1970’s and started a construction company where Barb kept the books. When Henry went to work for Alpha Beta Packing Plant in Pueblo, Barb worked at the Superintendent’s office for Fowler School District until Henry took a job at the National Bureau of Standards in Boulder. When they moved to Boulder, she enjoyed working at Celestial Seasonings as a receptionist.

 

Henry and Barb settled in Windsor in 2000 after retirement. Barbara was known for her skills as a seamstress and she made nearly every family member a warm quilt made of denim and lined with flannel. Her children remember her making Pot Roasts after church practically EVERY Sunday but also having very balanced and nutritious meals in general.. She found a delicious recipe for Blue Cheese salad dressing that the family has now claimed as its own family recipe!

 

Barbara liked to say that she was “a jack of all trades and a master of none.” Daughter Cyd thinks that combining that with hard work and a general interest in many things and people makes for a very balanced human being—qualities which she passed on to her children and grandchildren 😊

 

Barb was a great homemaker--wherever the family resided, she always made it a comfortable place where the kids, friends and family felt welcomed and loved.

 

Barbara is survived by her sister Helen Barr, daughters Cydney (Chris) Ruff of Windsor, Carla (Shawn) Labonde of Aurora and son Clint Tyler of Erie. She is also survived by her 6 grandchildren Sarah Waite (LaBonde), Mackenzie Ruff, Derek Ruff, Kendall LaBonde, Brock LaBonde and Ridge Tyler. She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, Henry Tyler, her brother Herbert Green and her sister Virginia Jensen.

 

Her legacy of love for her children, grandchildren and family will always be cherished and charts the course for her loved ones.

 

An open house visitation is Friday, March 3rd from 3:30-6:00 pm at Marks Funeral and Cremation in Windsor. Funeral services will be held at Fowler United Methodist Church, 302 S Main St, Fowler, CO 81039 on Saturday, March 4th at 11 am, followed by a meal and reception at the church. Internment will follow in the Fowler Cemetery at 2 pm in Fowler, Colorado.