Barbara Jeane Towns

Barbara Jeane Towns of Collbran, Colorado passed away at La Villa Grande Care Center on January 6th, 2025 at the age of 96. She was born in Grand Junction, Colorado on October 7th, 1928 as the only child of Henry M. Tebo and Mildred (Barbour) Tebo. Barbara spent her childhood in Grand Junction where she was particularly proud at 8 years old to have ridden her bicycle (3rd or 4th in the procession) in the parade that opened the "new" 5th Street Bridge. She loved swimming and won many competitions at the Moyer Pool, all the while developing her passion for horses and dogs. She attended Grand Junction High School until she Married Fernon E. "Pete" Towns on September 18th, 1946. Together, they had three children and embarked on a life of farming and ranching which included pears and their own smaller herd of registered polled hereford cattle which they grazed at home and on their allotments. They had been married 44 years when Pete passed away in 1991. In addition to the "work around the place" Barbara was also employed through the years with her final "paying" job at her beloved Peachtree True Value where she worked after having helped to set up the store for it's opening.

After Pete's death, Barbara moved to Collbran to be closer to the "Mountain" (Smalley Gulch) where she continued to ranch and enjoy her horses. She was an avid hunter from early on. Oh, the stories of harvesting buckskin when all you cared about packing out of the canyons was the meat and the "record setting" antlers were left behind. She filled the freezer with elk, year after year, tagging her final cow in her late 70's. Barbara wasn't afraid to mechanic on anything, in fact it was said many times that she had a complete tool box in her tooled leather purse. She cut most of her own firewood and was a "true hand" with a chainsaw. When she wasn't doing her own chores, she could be found helping friends and family tend to their livestock. She took every opportunity to jump on her horse and help drive cattle from pasture to pasture or up the highway to the mountain, a task she had enjoyed back to the 1960's when her and Pete rode with Glen and Don Gore on Glade Park. Barbara's love of horses and hard work was also expressed through many clubs and organizations, including The Collbran Lions Club and Jr Rodeo, the Rim Rock Riders, Friends of the Mustangs and especially the Frontier Belles Sidesaddle Club where she rode side saddle and pivot point for over 30 years. Barbara also set up, judged and competed in many competitive trail rides across the western slope, bringing home ribbon after ribbon. Anybody that was lucky enough to have followed her through the brush of her beloved Bookcliffs, Battlements or Glade Park horseback was sure to have heard, "THERE USED TO BE A TRAIL HERE".

Barbara is survived by her three children; Jeanette L. Tyson, Judith Ann Towns and Ronald E. (Judy) Towns; 7 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 9 great-great grandchildren with another on the way. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Pete and very special friend Millard Giles; not to forget numerous horses and dogs that ranked right there as family. A very special thanks to her friend Linda who selflessly volunteers with HopeWest. A family memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of cards or flowers, feel free to make a donation in her name to a charity of your choice or simply think of her the next time you eat at the Texas Roadhouse.

LINKS

Martin Mortuary

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel

http://www.gjsentinel.com