Barbara L. (Coats) Maurer
Obituaries
The Daily Sentinel page 3C - September 5, 2021
Barbara L. Maurer died
on August 14, 2021, at the
age of 76, in her hometown
of Grand Junction,
Colorado. With her family
surrounding her, she
passed away peacefully at
the HopeWest Care Center.
Barbara was born in 1944 in Vinita, Oklahoma.
She spent much of her childhood in Montana before
moving to Palisade, Colorado, while in high school.
She was actively involved with sports and activities
at Palisade High School, where Barbara was also the
Homecoming Queen. After graduation, she attended
Mesa Junior College and received her associate degree
in mathematics.
Barbara loved to travel, and moved to Alaska with
her husband, Bob Maurer, in 1970. She lived in both
Sitka and Anchorage during this time, and it was there
that she raised her two children, Dr. Tara Marshall
MacDonald and Dr. Casper Maurer.
Barbara had many interesting jobs and was a lifelong
learner. She was a master potter with numerous works
displayed at airports across Alaska. She was the author
of several cookbooks and a coloring book. In Anchorage,
Barbara owned the largest Century 21 real estate office
in Alaska with over 60 agents working under her.
Eventually, she went back to school to receive her MBA
and then attended Gonzaga University to obtain her law
degree. After graduating, she moved back to Colorado
in 1995. While owning a real estate office in Palisade
and working as a legal mediator, Barbara took on the
new endeavor of winemaking. With Barbara’s attention
to detail, and Johnny Cash or The Eagles playing in the
background, Graystone Winery produced wines that
won both local and international awards.
Barbara was a loving family member and doted
on her children, Tara and Casper; daughter-in-law,
Amber Maurer; son-in-law, Dan MacDonald, and
grandchildren, Donovan, Sydney, Samantha and Aiden.
She was an avid animal lover, and provided a wonderful
home to many rescue animals. She will be greatly
missed by all her friends and family, who admired her
loyalty, enthusiasm, and strong spirit.
Barbara will be buried with her parents, Dan and
Erma Coats, at Bluejacket Cemetery in Oklahoma.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Roice
Hurst Humane Society or HopeWest Care Center.
