Obituary of Louise Barnhart

Louise was born 10 miles north and east of Burlington. The snow was about 6 feet deep, just leaving trails across the country. She lived in a 3 room house with her dad’s 3 brothers and 1 sister. A few months later she moved to “Cody Hill” south of Hale about 3 miles. Then two years later they moved to Hunt place, a 4 room house. Louise and her sister went to school at Cody at the age of 7, which required a 2 ½ mile walk. Two years later they moved back to Kit Carson County to the Cuttingham place and then moved 5 miles to Happy Hollow. Her dad got a job at the flour mill in Idalia, so they move there. One day at school a terrible snow storm was going on, so the teachers had to send them home. Her dad found them with frost bitten hands and faces. So he made them a one horse rubber tire cart for them to take to school. Louise was dad’s boy and she had to help with everything outside. By then she had 2 sisters and a brother in 1930. Her dad built them a house out of brick. Louise’s neighbor, Ira Barnhart helped with the farming and later became her husband in 1933. Ira and Louise worked for her dad for 18 months and then went to work for Harley Rhoades. They then moved by the Republican River and their daughter Eva was born. In 1935, another daughter Shirley was born. In 1937 they moved to Burlington where Ira worked for the county until 1942. Charlotte was born in 1939 when they moved to Bonny. While their Deazel, 1943, Delvin, 1946, and Rodney, 1953 were born. In 1964, they moved back to Burlington where Louise worked at the Kit Carson County Memorial Hospital until 1982. She worked there for 17 years. She lived in her home until July 2011 when she had to move to Grace Manor. Louise loved working in her yard, painting blocks for quilts, cooking and visiting with everyone. Louise is preceded in death by her parents, Philbert and Martha Smith, her husband, Ira Barnhart, one son, two daughters, two granddaughters, one sister, and 3 son-in-laws. She is survived by her daughter, Charlotte Osborn of Brush, Colorado, her sons; Delvin (Linda) Barnhart of Burlington, Colorado and Rodney Barnhart of Brush, Colorado, 23 grandchildren, 49 great grandchildren, 19 great great grandchildren. Also surviving her are one brother, RB (Betty) Smith of Burlington, Colorado and a brother-in-law Glen Weaver, and her sister Cora Albertson of Burlington, Colorado along with many nieces and nephews.