Barbara Baker Hadobas

Barbara went to be with her Lord on February 9, 2021, at the age of 96. A memorial service will be held on April 16 at Redlands Community Church in Grand Junction, Colorado at, 2:00 p.m.

The youngest of ten children, she was born to Joseph and Barbara Petrie in Denver, CO, where she attended schools and the University of Denver. In 1943 she married Donald Baker of Wheat Ridge, in Corpus Christi, Texas, then lived on the East Coast for eight years from Rhode Island to Key West. From 1955 through 1989, she lived in California, where school districts employed her in Covina, Santa Barbara, and Atascadero. She and Don retired to Grand Junction in 1989, where he died in 2000. In 2007 Barbara married Lawrence Hadobas, an old family friend. They spent winters in Sun City, Indio, California, summers in Grand Junction, and traveled extensively. Lawrence died in 2015.

Barbara is survived by son Randall and his wife, Becky of Round Rock, Texas, son Gary of Nykoping, Sweden, son-in-law Dennis Davison and his wife, Debbie, of Warner Springs, California; grandchildren Cari Sacaris (Mark), Ryan (Sarah) Davison, Aaron (Angela) Baker, Celise (Robbie) Ketch, Briana and Nils Baker, ten great-grandchildren, and many Hadobases. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Robin Davison, husbands Donald and Larrie, and her five brothers and four sisters.

She was active in over thirty community theater productions in Denver, on both coasts, and locally with the Cabaret and Grand Valley Theatres. Barbara also made several television commercials. She authored the historical biography ”Steamy Dreamer” about The Baker Steam Car Company in Pueblo, registered in the Library of Congress. Barbara lived life to the fullest, volunteering for many activities and hostessing many events. Her travels and correspondence were extensive, and she seldom missed a play or concert.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Joint Development Associates International in Grand Junction, whose ministry helps Middle East natives to become self-sufficient, or to the Comanche Crossing Museum in Strasburg, Colorado, which houses items from the old Petrie family homestead.