Barbara Garland

Barbara Ann Garland

Sunrise                                           Sunset

January 19, 1943,                          September 10, 2022

Barbara Ann Garland was born January 19, 1943, into a strong, loving family in Oklahoma. Her folks were hard working solid good people, as was Barbara. She learned the many skills of living on a farm, like learning to grow a food garden and how to raise and take care of animals.  She was raised in a natural wholesome environment and appreciated the down to earth pleasures of life.

She was the wife of Howard B. Garland, a beloved mother to Jeffery Wayne, Darryl Ray, and Brenda Rashel [Shelly]. Her four grandchildren are Joshua, Nathan, Shannon, and Craig and each of them deeply loved their grandma.  She is survived by her four great grandchildren: Holden, Mariah, Kamya and Shyelle. Family meant the world to Barbara, and she loved having them around her. She was hospitable to all people, and all were welcome! Barbara was easy to be around and never had an enemy. She genuinely loved people and had a generosity of spirit…. a kind soul.

Barbara was very creative and whenever anyone was going to have a baby, she made them a beautiful handmade baby quilt. She made over forty of them. She was an expert at crocheting and made several afghans as well. She liked to make crocheted washcloths which were the best and lasted forever.  After her children were teenagers, she went back to school and got her LNP nursing credentials. She worked in a regional hospital in Oklahoma City and then worked in nursing homes in Colorado.  Barbara had a special bond with her pets and her dog Tinks was her little buddy who was always at her side. Tink’s dearly loved Barbara and was nearby her to the very end. She was also known to quickly butcher a rabbit and was a master doing it. Then, she would clean it, cook it and serve it! Her gardening skills were nothing short of amazing. She would grow her own lettuce, tomatoes and all the other good things that made her salads very special and fresh. Her daughter said that her mom had a green thumb; she could grow anything.  Barbara spent time canning every year and always had a big supply in the cellar or stocked in the pantry. She was an avid reader and read a few books a week. She shared her wisdom with those she knew and loved. She and Howard spent many years getting out and enjoying the spectacular beauty of Colorado.  They spent a few summers in California and soaked up the sun and enjoyed the beaches and seafood.

The single most selfless act Barbara did in her life was when the Lord granted her an extra day. She spent the full day before she passed to make endless phone calls to let each and every person, she cared about to say good-bye. She reached into her distant past as well as the present to make the contacts to simply give her final gift of “good-bye” and “I love you”. What a noble and special gift.

Barbara had a deep faith, and she is now at perfect peace with her savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. She has been promoted to eternal rest with her loved ones who went before her. We will see her again and it will be a wonderful reunion.