Barbara Carnes

Barbara Carnes passed away peacefully in her sleep in her home of 63 years, with her kitty cats by her side. This was the way she said she always wanted to go, and we believe this was her reward for a life well lived.

She was born in East Gary, Indiana (now Portage) on February 14, 1932 to Margaret and Coy Pitts. Barbara had a number of different careers, including a flight attendant with American Airlines in the 1950s, a Registered Nurse in the 60s and early 70s, and a business owner from 1972 through 2001.

She studied nursing at Cook County hospital in Chicago, and the CU school of nursing. It was working in the ER at Denver General Hospital, where she met a young reporter who was doing a story on emergency rooms in Denver. She married that young reporter, Del Carnes and on May 5, 1960, they gave birth to their first son Philip. Then on January 26, 1963, gave birth to their second son, Gary. On October 10, 1976, Barb tragically lost her oldest son Philip, in a car accident.

She retired from nursing in 1972 to help open a business called, “Mrs. Mayo’s Cake and Food Decorating”. This was a retail shop that sold cake decorating and candy making supplies. At one point in the mid 80s, there were seven Mrs. Mayo’s shops in operation around Denver and Wichita Kansas.

Barbara retired from retail and (Mrs. Mayo’s closed its doors) on September 12, 2001--one day after the world trade center attack. Barbara was also an avid traveler, visiting China, Russia, South America, and all over Europe and America, usually accompanied by her sister-in-law and best friend Phyllis Holsey. When she wasn't traipsing around the planet. Barbara was a huge adrenaline junkie, never passing up a roller coaster, zip line or wild carnival ride. One of her favorite memories was spending several days at Cedar Point Ohio (the roller coaster capital of America) where she rode every coaster, repeatedly. We are still in awe of the time she put on a harness and jumped off the top of the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas (108 floors and over 800ft high) at the age of 81.

In 1959, Barbara became one of the first residents of the newly incorporated city of Northglenn, and she was a founding member of the Northglenn United Church of Christ.

In the last year and a half, she helped Carolyn’s brother Gary Vittorelli, lose over 300 pounds. He liked to call her Coach Barb. She is survived by her son Gary (Carnes) and his wife Carolyn, her best friends Phyllis Holsey, JoAnne Hackett, Susie Christensen, and Shannan Miller. As well as her four pawed children Salt and Pepper.

Barbara believed in a life of service, caring and giving, so instead of flowers please make donations! To anyone you think needs it. She always said we must take care of each other. (And ALWAYS have something to look forward to!)