Barbara Joan Kechter

Barbara Joan (Johnson) Kechter, 81, of Fort Collins. Barbara was born June 27, 1935 in Queen City, Missouri to Leslie Eason Johnson and Beulah Lorene (Sidwell) Johnson.

Barbara attended elementary school in Carr, Colorado. The family moved to Ft. Collins in 1946 and she attended Lincoln Junior High and Fort Collins High School, graduating in 1952. Immediately after graduating, she married Howard Eugene Kechter. They divorced in 1984.

Barbara worked at Sears Roebuck, Home Federal Savings, Monroe Industrial Bank, and title companies before retiring from Wells Fargo Mortgage in February, 2000. Later that year, she joined the business office at Fort Collins Youth Clinic, retiring again in June, 2010.

Survivors include children, Greg (Nedra) Kechter, Darlene (Ted) Cross, Dale (Donna) Kechter, and Robert (Georgia) Kechter. She was blessed with 11 grandchildren: Nedra Michelle Kechter, Daniel Joseph Kechter, Matthew Robert Kechter, Micki (Bryce) Giardino, Molly Courtney Kechter, Sarah Ellan Kechter, Melissa Sue Kechter, Ginger McKenzie Cross, Charlotte Rachael Cross, Leslie Alexandra (Jonathan) MacPherson, and Theodore Vincent Cross, Jr. She has been blessed with 7 great-grandchildren: Cody Robert Trent, Crystal Rose Kechter, Xander Hemi Kechter, Lillian Kimberly Renee Cross, Alaina Lucille Tsuyama-Cross, and Elizabeth Talei MacPherson. Barbara's greatest pride and joy was her large and loving family. Also surviving are her sisters, Margaret (Charles) Hayes of Cheyenne, Wyoming and Lois (John) Blakemore of Bakersfield, California.

Preceding Barbara in death were her parents; former husband, Howard; and her sister, Katherine Miller.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to the American Diabetes Association or the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524.

A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday at Bohlender Funeral Chapel. Interment will follow at Resthaven Memory Gardens Cemetery.