LaVerna Mae Barnhart

LaVerna Mae Barnhart (née Shortridge), 88, was born September 11, 1927, in her grandparent’s home on their beautiful farm near Reynolds, Nebraska. She passed from her earthly life on Thursday, October 29, 2015 of age related ailments. LaVerna’s parents were George and Mae Shortridge and she had one brother, Harold (deceased). She and Harold attended a one room school in Reynolds, often riding a horse, back and forth in good weather. She often attributed her social nature and future success in life to those early years in that small farming community, surrounded by close family and friends, who had to work hard to survive on the farm and get through the Great Depression. LaVerna’s memories of those times remained vivid to the end and helped her be the strong and independent woman that she was. Her family later moved to Fairbury, Nebraska where she attended high school. Her father ran the Standard Oil bulk station in Fairbury and her mother worked as a nurse. Shortly after WWII LaVerna met and married the love of her life, Duayne E. Barnhart (deceased). They soon moved to Dallas, Texas where Duayne attended a Photographic trade school. After graduation, the young couple took a big step, and with LaVerna borrowing start-up funding from her beloved Priefert Grandparents they moved to Fort Collins, Colorado where they opened the Barnhart Studio. LaVerna also worked as administrative support at the Forney Welder Company for many years. They spent their remaining years in Fort Collins, their home and the place they both loved. LaVerna and Duayne adopted 2 children, Chris E. (Chip) and Nancy Anne (deceased) in the late 1950’s and provided them with wonderful upbringings and much spoiling, as well. They provided their kids with many opportunities and loved and supported them in their early lives and activities. This included their education and their activities such as sports, band, art, 4-H club and even through the driver’s education process. LaVerna was a true people person and loved to talk with just about anybody, especially if the conversation was about family, history, playing card games or most certainly, about politics. She was a proud life-long Democratic and spent countless hours working for the party, working phone banks, going door to door for candidates, soliciting donations and most generally, voting the party line in every election. In addition, she stepped into local politics herself by wrangling a gubernatorial appointment to the position of Public Trustee for Larimer, County, a position she held for many years. After that she even ran for County Clerk. LaVerna was a lifelong member of the Methodist church. Later in life the Barnhart’s were blessed with 5 grandchildren, Chip and Sheila Barnhart had son, Nathanial Jay and daughters, Devon Briann and Noah Nicole. Daughter, Nancy (deceased) and husband, Dale Mitchell had daughter, Megan Anne, and son, Dane Matthew. Most recently, 4 really wonderful, great grandchildren have joined the family, Nathan and his wife, Dorothy’s son, Asher and Megan’s son, Ethan and two daughters, Rhiya and Sloane. Grandma loved all the kids, grandkids and great grandkids and enjoyed spending as much time as possible with each of them. LaVerna, will truly be missed but stated recently, “Ya know, I’ve had a really good life”! A Graveside Service is planned for 1:00 p.m., Saturday November 7, 2015 at the Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins, CO. The service will be followed by a Celebration of Life at the Drake Center, 802 W Drake Road, Fort Collins from 2:30 – 5:30 pm. Contributions can be made to the American Heart Association or to the charity of your choice in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524. Flowers may be sent to the Drake Center on Saturday after 1 pm.

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LaVerna Mae Barnhart

September 11, 1927 - October 28, 2015