Gary Gene Barr

Gary is survived by his wife, Lorraine; children, Doug and Steve; and grandchildren, Madison, Kristin, and Justin. He is preceded in death by his parents Max and Martha Barr of Stuart, Iowa.

Gary was born on March 3rd, 1945 in Stuart, Iowa to Ralph Max Barr and Martha Lorraine Slavens. He grew up on a farm and started his early education at a country school and later graduated from Stuart High School. He graduated from AIB in 1964 with a degree in computer sciences and married Lorraine Mills, his high school sweetheart, that same year. After moving to Des Moines, Iowa, Gary became a computer systems analyst for a bank. In 1966, Gary, Lorraine and new baby Doug moved to Colorado Springs. Two years later, Steve was born. After a period of time back in Iowa, Gary was insistent on finding his two sons the best school in Colorado and relocated to the Arvada area in 1973. Escaping the Colorado winters, in 1988 with Doug and Steve off to college, Gary and Lorraine relocated to Mesa, Arizona where Gary successfully ran an engraving business. In 2002, the Rocky Mountains called Gary and Lorraine back to Colorado Springs where they both retired to enjoy the Colorado lifestyle.

Gary was an avid collector of John Deere collectibles and Lorraine and Gary were accomplished country dancers. Gary was a member and enthusiastic supporter of the Elks Lodge. He loved checking out webcams whether looking at traffic cams in Iowa and Colorado, or looking at the Aspen Mountain Gondola webcam. He was an amateur gardener and aficionado of country western music including Johnny Cash and the Statler Brothers. Gary was a nine year survivor of esophageal cancer when natural causes took his life.

A funeral is scheduled for Sunday, April 17th, 2016 at 1PM at Swan-Law Funeral Home at 501 North Cascade Ave.in Colorado Springs, with a reception to follow at Lorraine and Gary’s home in Colorado Springs. All friends are welcome to attend and celebrate Gary's life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Cancer Society at donate.cancer.org. The family would like to thank Penrose Hospital and Brookdale Hospice for their care and dedication