Barbara Jane (Chaffee) Byrom
Marriages
Capt Gustav A. Byrom Jr. - August 1, 1949
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D Obituary - October 21, 2018
Barbara Jane Chaffee Byrom September 13, 1927 - September 20, 2018
Barbara passed away peacefully encircled by all of her children at the Namaste Assisted Living in Farmington, New Mexico. She was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 13, 1927. She was the daughter of Owen Russell and Marguerite Burdick Chaffee. During the Great Depression, she and her mother settled in Miami, Florida, where she graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in Mathematics and taught school for two years before marrying Captain Gustav A. Byrom, Jr. (USAAC ) on August 1, 1949. In 1958, Gus, Barbara and their three young children moved to Aurora, Colorado where Gus was city traffic engineer and Barbara was a homemaker and pursued her love of art. In 1963 the family moved to Grand Junction, Colorado where they enjoyed many memorable and enjoyable times with friends socially and going on camping trips on the Grand Mesa and the San Juans. Barbara was an active member of the American Lutheran Church and an avid award winning artist over the years. She was an active member of the Art Center, involved in the Brush and Pallete Club, participated and helped with many art shows and events. She taught many art classes in her home. They moved to Farmington, New Mexico in 1976 where Gus, as in Grand Junction, became the city traffic engineer and Airport manager. Barbara became involved in their community as one of the early members of the Clean City Committee and helped with the beautification of the Riverwalk along the Animas River. Barbara loved the Southwest landscape, the subject of many of her paintings. She was a member of the "LL’s" art group and loved to travel with these friends all around the Four Corners, putting the vivid scenery to canvas. She also became an accomplished sculptor locally known for her Saint Francis garden statues and angel statuettes. Her loving husband, Gus, passed away in 2002, but her love of her family, friends and her art continued to fill her life with joy. She loved her friends, her community, her family and her Gus. Barbara is survived by her children: Gus III (Brenda), Helena, MT; Pamela Rice, Farmington, NM; Merry Anne Sechrist (Ron), Grand Junction, CO, and John (Stephanie) Farmington, NM, grandchildren, Kendra Proue (Casey), Andrew Byrom, Timothy Rice, Ann Rice, Nick Sechrist (Samantha), Chase Sechrist (Shawn), Luke Byrom, Lydia Byrom, and Logan Byrom, and great-grandchildren, Araceli, Norah, Jack, and Erik. A memorial service celebrating Barbara’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 27, 2018, at First Presbyterian Church, 865 North Dustin Avenue, in Farmington, NM. A reception will follow the service in the social hall of the church. A private, family burial has already taken place. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Barbara’s name to The Art Center in Grand Junction, CO, gjartcenter.org.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel6 page 6A Obituary - October 26, 2018
Barbara Jane Chaffee Byrom September 13, 1927 - September 20, 2018
Barbara passed away peacefully encircled by all of her children at the Namaste Assisted Living in Farmington, New Mexico. She was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 13, 1927. She was the daughter of Owen Russell and Marguerite Burdick Chaffee. During the Great Depression, she and her mother settled in Miami, Florida, where she graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in Mathematics and taught school for two years before marrying Captain Gustav A. Byrom, Jr. (USAAC ) on August 1, 1949. In 1958, Gus, Barbara and their three young children moved to Aurora, Colorado where Gus was city traffic engineer and Barbara was a homemaker and pursued her love of art. In 1963 the family moved to Grand Junction, Colorado where they enjoyed many memorable and enjoyable times with friends socially and going on camping trips on the Grand Mesa and the San Juans. Barbara was an active member of the American Lutheran Church and an avid award winning artist over the years. She was an active member of the Art Center, involved in the Brush and Pallete Club, participated and helped with many art shows and events. She taught many art classes in her home. They moved to Farmington, New Mexico in 1976 where Gus, as in Grand Junction, became the city traffic engineer and Airport manager. Barbara became involved in their community as one of the early members of the Clean City Committee and helped with the beautification of the Riverwalk along the Animas River. Barbara loved the Southwest landscape, the subject of many of her paintings. She was a member of the "LL’s" art group and loved to travel with these friends all around the Four Corners, putting the vivid scenery to canvas. She also became an accomplished sculptor locally known for her Saint Francis garden statues and angel statuettes. Her loving husband, Gus, passed away in 2002, but her love of her family, friends and her art continued to fill her life with joy. She loved her friends, her community, her family and her Gus. Barbara is survived by her children: Gus III (Brenda), Helena, MT; Pamela Rice, Farmington, NM; Merry Anne Sechrist (Ron), Grand Junction, CO, and John (Stephanie) Farmington, NM, grandchildren, Kendra Proue (Casey), Andrew Byrom, Timothy Rice, Ann Rice, Nick Sechrist (Samantha), Chase Sechrist (Shawn), Luke Byrom, Lydia Byrom, and Logan Byrom, and great-grandchildren, Araceli, Norah, Jack, and Erik. A memorial service celebrating Barbara’s life will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 27, 2018, at First Presbyterian Church, 865 North Dustin Avenue, in Farmington, NM. A reception will follow the service in the social hall of the church. A private, family burial has already taken place. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Barbara’s name to The Art Center in Grand Junction, CO, gjartcenter.org.
