Barbara J. Mills…October 9, 1953 – February 9, 2014

Horber Funeral Chapel

Funeral services for Barbara J. Mills will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 14, 2014 at the United Methodist Church in Las Animas, Colorado.  Visitation for Barbara will be from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Thursday, February 13, 2014 at Horber Funeral Chapel in Las Animas.

            Barbara Jean (Smith) Mills, loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by those who love her dearly, at her home on February 9, 2014. 

            Barbara, affectionately known as “Sis” or “Bobby”, was born on October 9, 1953 in Las Animas, Colorado to Samuel H. and Lilly D. (Coleman) Smith.  She was the second daughter of 5 children.  She grew up in Las Animas on her parent’s dairy farm and would often talk to her children about walking barefoot in the cow manure as she would help clean the barn.  Barbara graduated high school in Las Animas in 1971.  She was a nurse’s assistant for over 30 years with Ft. Lyon VA and her last several years before retirement at the Pueblo VA nursing home.  It was through this career that she gained many close friendships.

            Barbara loved spending her time with family.  She enjoyed fishing, camping and searching for asparagus.  She loved a good poker game even when she had to watch for her brother, Mike cheating.  She was an avid Bronco fan and John Elway was her love until Tebow showed up and she traded John in.  She loved to cook for her family and friends.  Her son-in-law, Pablo’s favorite was her menudo.  She enjoyed fruit loops from Sam and all the little gifts from her grandkids.  She always had a magic soup she would make for the kids when they were sick or a dish to spank them with if they were being bad.  She just enjoyed life to the fullest until her last moments.  She told her children that she had a good life.  She raised 3 children on her own and always provided for themand usually a handful of their friends as well.  She accumulated several children over the years that are still proud to call her “Mom”.

            Barbara is survived by two brothers, Mike Smith and wife, Linda and Jerry Smith all of Las Animas; three children, Tracy Mills, Stacy Armendariz and husband, Pablo all of Avondale, CO and Joshua Mills of Colorado City, CO; 9 grandchildren, Caitlyn Richert and husband, Matt of Sterling, CO, Mariah, Adrean, Javier “Bubba”, Isaiah, Aliah, Aryana, Kylie, and Colby; one great granddaughter, Davynn; several nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

            Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Lilly Smith; grandparents, Claude and Hazel Coleman, Edward and Ruby Smith; two sisters, Patricia Wright and Tracy Smith; two grandsons, Pablo Jr. and Cristopher Samuel.

            Memorial contributions may be made in Barbara’s name in care of Horber Funeral Chapel, P.O. Box 431, Las Animas, CO 81054.

            For more information or to leave online condolences please visit www.horberfuneralchapel.com.