Barbara Jane Olsen

BARBARA JANE OLSEN Funeral services for longtime Cortez resident Barbara Jane Olsen will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, December 13 at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Interment will follow at Lebanon Cemetery. Barbara Jane Olsen was born May 5th, 1936 in Cortez, Colo. to delighted parents Bernice and Herald Keown of Rico, Colo. She departed this life suddenly December 8, 2010 at the Vista Grande Rehabilitation Center following complications from hip replacement surgery. Barbara excelled in her studies at Montezuma Cortez High School and graduated from Adams State College where she majored in Elementary Education, which seemed a natural choice with her affinity for children and their affinity for her. Later she would earn a Masters degree from the University of Colorado with a major in Special Education. Loved by her students, she retired from teaching at Teec Nos Pos. Barbara met her devoted husband George while teaching at Lebanon, and they were blessed with two sons, Loren and Alan who became star athletes at MCHS and continued basketball and football at the college level. Barbara deeply loved her Christian faith that she embraced as a teenager. Later in life she became a member of the Montelores Baptist Church whose many members visited during her long illness. Barbara's many talents included playing the piano, and reading and writing poetry. She always had a book going. Those who knew Barbara realized she was equally passionate about things she liked and disliked. She suffered with the injustices of this life having profound and deep feelings for people in their sadness, disappointments, and misfortunes. Mistreated and neglected animals were given a strong voice through her frequent letters to the editor. Barbara was the inspiration and George the manpower for many yard beautification projects at the many homes where they lived. With a deep eye for beauty and a love for flowers she transformed many bleak properties with roses and other lovely flowers to bloom again for the next owner. Her family including husband, George of Cortez; son Loren Olsen, wife Orrita and daughter Makala of Farmington, N.M.; son, Alan Olsen, wife Patricia and children Seth and Hannah of Boise, Idaho will miss Barbara beyond words. Also left to mourn her passing are brother, Duane Keown and wife, Joy of Laramie, Wyo.; and sister, Beverly Donovan of Irvine, Cali.; and the many other friends.