Vivian Faye Barr was born July 12, 1914 in Milo, KS to Oma Marie (Wheeler) Saunders and Howard Charles Saunders. Archie and Porter were also born to this union. She entered into eternal, heavenly peace July 31, 2012, at Keefe Memorial Hospital in Cheyenne Wells, CO at the age of 98 years, 2 weeks, 5 days.


Oma later married Arthur James. Ila, Dorothy and Harold were born to this union.


During her childhood and early years she lived in Vernon, CO; Laramie, WY; Salt Lake City, UT; Wray, CO; Denver CO; Dillon, CO and the Smoky Angle Community.


She married Wayne Barr February 4, 1933, in the courthouse in Cheyenne Wells CO. They enjoyed 79 years and 5 months of wedded bliss. To this union two daughters were born, Shirley (David) Pedersen of Cheyenne Wells, CO and Maxine (Elroy) Osborne of Colorado Springs, CO.


Vivian and Wayne have eight grandchildren, twenty two great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren with another one to arrive in September. Wayne and Vivian met at a social gathering at the Smoky Angle school house. They lived on a farm/ranch twenty five miles northwest of Cheyenne Wells. She helped milk cows, feed chickens, and churn butter. She also put up sauerkraut, pickles, and fried sausage, layering the sausage with lard. All of this was put up in crock jars and stored in the cellar for winter use. Meals and baking were done on a range that they burned dried corn cobs and cow chips. Coal was used sparingly.


Their house burned completely to the ground in the early 1940s leaving the family with nothing. The family lived with relatives until a house was moved in and renovated.


Vivian was primarily a homemaker, being an excellent cook and baker. She was also an excellent seamstress and enjoyed knitting along with crocheting, making afghans for all of her children and grandchildren. She also worked at Gaskills department store and the Cheyenne County Treasurers office retiring in 1978.


Making resin figurines, candles and doing ceramics were some of her favorite hobbies. She enjoyed going to Cripple Creek and fishing at Blue Mesa, showing off her luck bringing home lots of money and fish. They traveled many times in a RV to McAllen, TX. They also traveled abroad with trips to England, Mexico, Hawaii, and Alaska.


Vivian was a very caring and compassionate person, she worried more about other people than she did about herself. She loved family and having everyone together. She had a wonderful sense of humor and loved playing April fool jokes on family and friends. She also enjoyed taking May baskets and Easter baskets to Grandkids along with sending cards for every Holiday and birthday. Her hands were soft and she always patted your hands, arms, and legs. She was a member of the United Methodist Church and Eastern Star.


She is survived by her loving and devoted husband, Wayne of the home; Daughters Shirley (David) Pedersen, Cheyenne Wells, CO and Maxine (Elroy) Osborne, Colorado Springs, CO; sister, Dorothy Taylor, Canon City, CO; Brother Harold (Dixie) James, Gladewater TX; eight grandchildren, twenty two great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren and one to be born in September and several nieces and nephews.


Preceding Vivian in death were her mother, Oma James; father Howard Saunders; step-father, Arthur James; brothers Porter James and Archie Saunders; sister Ila (James) Mayton and several nieces and nephews.


Vivian will be sorely missed by her family and friends.


Services were held on Friday, August 10, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Cheyenne Wells, CO with Rev. Dave Moorman and Rev. Burry Besse officiating. Internment followed at the Fairview Cemetery in Cheyenne Wells.


Memorial contributions can be made to the United Methodist Church at the Eastern Colorado Bank. Arrangements were entrusted to the Brown Funeral Home.