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Barbara May Duddie, of Haxtun Colorado, died Feb. 2, 2020, at the age of 67, at Haxtun Hospital, Haxtun Colorado. Barbara was born on June 19, 1952 in Sterling Colorado, to Luella (Spanjer) Duddie. She was confirmed in Haxtun at Immanuel Lutheran Church and graduated from Haxtun High School in 1970.
Barbara is survived by her Sisters, Elizabeth Gerber of Fort Wayne Indiana, Kay Dolen of Sterling Oklahoma, and Dora Gregory of Haxtun, Nieces, Nephews, Great Nieces and Nephews, cousins and precious friends.
Barbara is proceeded in death by her Mother, Luella (Spanjer) Duddie, Brother Irvin Duddie, Grandfather & Grandmother John and Annie Spanjer, and numerous Aunts, Uncles and cousins
Following High School Barbara moved to Pennsylvania briefly attending a school there before moving to Wheaton Illinois in 1971, sharing an apartment with her sister Elizabeth. Barbara worked for Tyndale publishing House, known for publishing The Living Bible, and her sister Elizabeth was working for T.E.A.M. (The Evangelical Alliance Mission). At night Barbara and Elizabeth went into Chicago and attended classes at Moody Bible Institute, continuing this for 2 years.
Barbara had a love of music and played many different instruments. She had a gift of playing any instrument she would pick: guitar, banjo, dulcimer, drums, trumpet, french horn, auto harp, etc. She wrote many songs and played her instruments and sang with groups and choirs in and out of church while in Wheaton and throughout her life. She worshiped with one group of people, that wouldn’t darken a church door, at a Bar on Sunday afternoons for a brief period of time.
Barbara was also interested in mechanical and engineering work, going to work for the Railroad in Chicago as a welder on locomotives. She also attended classes at The College of DuPage and soon was hired as a Welding Instructor.
In the late 70’s Barbara moved to Texas to attend The Oral Roberts University. While there, she took on a variety of jobs, two of which were working as an emergency dispatcher and EMT. Barbara’s final job was with the United States Postal Service.
During Barbara’s years in the Dallas Fort Worth area she continued her musical work with different churches and her studies in the scriptures. She developed a passion and love of Jewish/Hebrew works and history. Her love of The Dead Sea Scrolls and the Lost Books of the Bible often lead to great conversations. This passion led Barbara into Biblical archeological digs and gemology.
In opening another adventure, yet still maintaining and keeping in line with her love of Biblical History, Barbara became a “Rock Hound” and loved the title. She took many classes with the Gem and Mineral Institute in California and through-out different European countries. Her certifications were many and varied, from diamond and precious stone identifications, along with certifications for cutting of precious stones. Barbara was particularly proud of her Certification as a Pearl Specialist with the Cultured Pearl Association of America, and her Diploma with the Gemological Institute of America as an Accredited Jewelry Professional.
Barbara was an active member of the Arlington Gem and Mineral Club, and the Oakcliff Gem and Mineral club. The activities of the clubs brought into Barbara’s life many new friends and loved ones who grew to be a family of their own. One of Barbara’s many personal friends was Mel Fisher, the gentleman who found the Spanish treasure ship the Atocha. Another dear friend was Francis Johnson who was a genius, scholar and teacher, in the study of Gemology. The list goes on.
While working at the Post Office in Texas, Barbara’s job was to catalog tools and help in assigning staff to areas where services or repairs needed to be dealt with. On one particular day a conveyer belt in the main central receiving location of Dallas – Fort Worth, was broke down and jammed with mail. During a lunch break, Barbara went to that area to observe. A technician was attempting to dislodge envelopes and small packages. Being curious, Barbara looked over the technician’s shoulder for a closer look. It was at that time, a package that was lodged and being pulled out by the technician, ripped open and the ANTHRAX powder that was contained in the package flew out, directly hitting at least a dozen workers including Barbara. All had to be hospitalized and about half of the victims died soon after the exposure. As for Barbara, it was then that her health went down quickly. It affected her lungs first and her heart, putting her in need of a pacemaker and oxygen. Her skin began breaking down, and as the months and years continued so did the number of new health issues with increased severity. Barbara had to take a medical retirement soon after however, she kept herself engaged in learning and activities with those who became her family.
Her deep love of learning and hunger for Biblical studies never ceased. Barbara continued to learn and study scriptures, Biblical history, gemology, and archeology. She did this all while suffering from poor health for many years. When her medical condition left her more alone, with her increased disabilities, it became necessary to move from Dallas/Ft. Worth back to Haxtun. And along with that move was over 10,000 pages of medical history. It was just over 2 years ago that Barbara made her trip to Haxtun.
Barbara knew her days on this earth were short. She always had a love for God and never shied from expressing it or sharing it. She would envision Heaven and express it in song and prayer. Like Barbara’s mother and other family members who had a sincere love of God, Barbara’s heart and eyes were on Jesus. A trip to the Holy Lands and Jerusalem was a deep desire of Barbara’s. That trip was not to be so instead, Barbara decided to have a tree planted in her memory in Jerusalem.
Barbara wished that on her passing that the “Blowing of the Shofar” could take place in celebration of her entering Gods Kingdom. This was a favored item in Barbara’s possession. As one of Barbara’s favorite verses says, (In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 1Cor. 15:52)
Funeral Services held Friday – February 7, 2020 – 10:30 A.M. Immanuel Lutheran Church – Haxtun, Colorado. Interment – Haxtun Cemetery – Haxtun, Colorado
Baucke Funeral Home
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