Obituary for Barbara Jo Allen
Longtime Georgetown, CO resident Barb Allen died peacefully in her home after a courageous battle with cancer on July 8th. Barb was born in North Platte, Nebraska and moved with her family to Georgetown in 1956. She attended Georgetown Elementary from Grades 1-4 and then her family moved to Gothenburg, Nebraska. The family moved back to Georgetown in 1967 and she graduated from CCHS in 1968.
Barb attended CU Boulder and graduated in 1972 with a degree in sociology/psychology. She used her college degree and knowledge to give mine tours at the Lebanon Mine, repeatedly tended bar at the Red Ram and was a heavy equipment operator in the Henderson Mine. From 1979 to 1984 and in 1993 she was one of the early female leaders in Antarctica as a heavy equipment operator. She was a “hard worker, straight shooter and respected by her male peers.” A new 953 cat loader in Antarctica was named for Barb in her honor. She made long lasting friendships on the Ice. As much as Barb loved to listen to others, if Antarctica was mentioned in a conversation, she was passionate about sharing stories that her friends never tired of hearing. She loved her collection of penguins!
When Barb retired, she was on the Board and worked at the Georgetown Community Center. She was an election judge and involved in a national weather group set up by Historic Georgetown. Locals will miss her participation in weather reporting and as a dear friend.
She resigned a year ago because of her health challenges.
Barb was predeceased by parents Wayne and Lois Allen and her siblings Chris and Suzanne. She is survived by her cousin Cathy Porter as well as her “chosen family.”
Thank you to all the wonderful people in Georgetown who drove Barb to her doctor’s appointments in Denver, brought her food, did grocery shopping, stopped by to say hello and brighten her day. Thank you also to her nurses and staff at Mt. Evans Home Health Care and Hospice for their kindness and expertise as well as her caregivers PJ, Cindy and Pam.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Mt. Evans Home Health and Hospice at 3081 Bergen Peak Drive, Evergreen, CO 80439 or the Georgetown Community Center at P.O. Box 1037, Georgetown, CO 80444. A celebration of Barb’s life will be held early September.
Barb attended CU Boulder and graduated in 1972 with a degree in sociology/psychology. She used her college degree and knowledge to give mine tours at the Lebanon Mine, repeatedly tended bar at the Red Ram and was a heavy equipment operator in the Henderson Mine. From 1979 to 1984 and in 1993 she was one of the early female leaders in Antarctica as a heavy equipment operator. She was a “hard worker, straight shooter and respected by her male peers.” A new 953 cat loader in Antarctica was named for Barb in her honor. She made long lasting friendships on the Ice. As much as Barb loved to listen to others, if Antarctica was mentioned in a conversation, she was passionate about sharing stories that her friends never tired of hearing. She loved her collection of penguins!
When Barb retired, she was on the Board and worked at the Georgetown Community Center. She was an election judge and involved in a national weather group set up by Historic Georgetown. Locals will miss her participation in weather reporting and as a dear friend.
She resigned a year ago because of her health challenges.
Barb was predeceased by parents Wayne and Lois Allen and her siblings Chris and Suzanne. She is survived by her cousin Cathy Porter as well as her “chosen family.”
Thank you to all the wonderful people in Georgetown who drove Barb to her doctor’s appointments in Denver, brought her food, did grocery shopping, stopped by to say hello and brighten her day. Thank you also to her nurses and staff at Mt. Evans Home Health Care and Hospice for their kindness and expertise as well as her caregivers PJ, Cindy and Pam.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Mt. Evans Home Health and Hospice at 3081 Bergen Peak Drive, Evergreen, CO 80439 or the Georgetown Community Center at P.O. Box 1037, Georgetown, CO 80444. A celebration of Barb’s life will be held early September.