Barbara Gibb Billings

On Wednesday, 1 March 2023, Barbara Gibb Billings passed away at the age of 77 in Litchfield Park, AZ. Our hearts are tender at her loss but we are at peace knowing she is once again reunited with her beloved sweetheart.

Barbara was born 23 October 1945 in Ellensburg, WA, the oldest living child of Beatrice Mable Crawford & (Lew) Willard “Bill” Gibb. Growing up on the Gibb family farm with her two sisters (Sarah) Rebecca “Becky” & Cynthia was a joyous time. Barbara & Becky often made their own fun as they completed their daily chores, from spraying cow’s milk in someone’s face or seeing who could stay on a calf the longest as they road it across the field. Evenings in the Gibb family homestead were remembered as times enjoyed as she listened to her dad & his brothers singing together. Barbara would follow in their footsteps as she developed her own gift for music.

In 1953 at the tender age of eight, Barbara lost her beloved father to cancer. After his passing, Barbara moved with her mother & sisters to CA. They lived in many places throughout CA as Barbara’s mother completed her teaching degree & went to work to support the family. Barbara was a good student & learned to make friends quickly. It was during these days that she developed her gift for music, performing in several school choirs. After attending several different high schools, Barbara finally graduated from Terra Linda High School in San Rafael, CA in 1964.

Barbara worked as a telephone operator in San Francisco, CA before attending Brigham Young University (BYU) in Provo UT where she met Glenn Billings. Barbara & Glenn were married a few short months later in the Manti Utah Temple on 17 December 1966. While attending BYU they started their family with the arrival of their oldest daughter, Tari Lee. After her husband graduated, Barbara moved to Grand Junction, CO where her remaining five children were born (David James, Douglas Edward, Cynthia Marie, Willard “Dean”, & Annie DeAnne). Her husband’s career took Barbara & her family to Yuma, AZ for a few years then to Wheatridge, CO where they would spend several decades raising their family & watching the family expand with the arrival of their grandchildren & later great-grandchildren.

In their sunset years Barbara & Glenn moved to Brighton, CO. In 2020 Barbara was widowed when her sweetheart Glenn passed away suddenly from cancer. After his passing, Barbara moved in with her youngest daughter Annie’s family, who cared for her until her passing. Throughout their many moves they made many cherished, lasting friendships.

Barbara’s greatest joy in life was being a wife & mother. She learned to bake, grew a garden, & canned the foods she grew. She used these skills among others to beautify & bless her home. She developed great skill in sewing, crocheting, knitting, & tatting. For a time she worked at Sew-Fro Fabrics as a seamstress, sewing for customers from patterns they bought. Her handiwork blessed the lives & homes of family & friend alike. A faith-filled member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Barbara found great joy & a life long passion participating in family history & temple service. She continued to share her gift for music as a member of her ward choir & for a time singing in the Colorado Mormon Chorale.

Barbara was proceeded in death by her beloved husband Glenn; both her parents Bill & Beatrice; her older brother Lew Gibb, Jr. & youngest sister Cynthia.

She is survived by her sister Becky Fligge (Raymond); 6 children Tari Morris (Dwayne), David (Kelly), Douglas (Angelique), Cynthia Salazar (Mark), Dean (Cortney), & Annie Alberti (Elias); 21 grandchildren Jennifer Knoll (Kevin), Adam Morris (Sabrina “Envy”), Samantha West (Aaron), Timothy Billings, Arika Morris, George Morris (Rochelle), Brandon Billings, Seth Gulley (Nicole), Douglas Billings II (Savanna), Patrick Morris, Dallon Billings, Ambrielle Martinez (Luis), Riley Day (Ryan), Elias Alberti II, Christopher Billings, Adrianna Alberti, Alexandra “Coda”Billings, Katelyn Billings, Scarlett Billings, Maricela Salazar, & Samuel Salazar; and 15 great-grandchildren Alison West, Emma Billings, Kairi Billings, Rorrey Billings, Benjamin West, Elizabeth West, Aria Gulley, Greyson Billings, Ezekiel Martinez, James Billings, Maeve Morris, Elijah Martinez, Nova Billings, Thorsten Gulley, & Richard Morris.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, 18 March 2023 at 1 pm at Snyder Grand Valley Funeral Home, 292 26 1/4 Rd., Grand Junction, CO, 81503. Burial will follow at the Orchard Mesa Cemetery.

If you would like to send flowers, you can send them to Snyder Grand Valley Funeral Home. If you would like to send condolences, you can send them c/o Annie Alberti, 16347 W Mesquite Drive, Goodyear, AZ 85338