Laura Bell Babb

Despite the circumstances that brought us together today ... Laura Babb would love the fact that her family has gathered together, no matter the reason. For Laura, any reason that brought family and others together was good. Laura Babb loved nothing more than a house stuffed full of family and friends' joyfully sharing food and conversation punctuated with a fair amount of reminiscing to include stories told and retold. A month or so ago, Laura, who could be very persuasive if not downright pushy once she made up her mind to do something, managed to lobby herself right out of her hospital room to get back to her home for one of those family get-togethers, even if just for the day. The laughter and love, not to mention the feast, shared in that home on that day seemed the perfect medicine for Laura. She even took advantage of the opportunity to once again sink comfortably into her favorite chair as she royally reigned over her family legacy...a conglomeration of kids, grandkids and great grandkids as well as other family and friends, happily making memories to be tucked away for another day. Today IS "another day". And, thanks to Laura's persistence in always wanting things her way...today her exteneded family does gather in her name, not just to bid farewell, but to once again bask in the recollections of a multitude of special days, shared happily with one very special lady. Laura Bell Babb was born in Grand Junction, Colorado on January 25, 1932, the third of William and Etta Anderson's seven children. In order of birth the Anderson siblings included Lillie (Lloyd) Dean, now deceased; Bill (Brigetta) Anderson; Gus Anderson, now deceased; Francis (Ed) Lacost; Mary (Willard, deceased) Vocke; and Bob (Tommie) Anderson. The Anderson family eventually moved to Lamar, Colorado where they managed a restaurant. Laura graduated from Lamar High School and then, while waiting tables at her parent's cafe, met her future husband, Earl Babb, who worked for the Southeast Colorado Power Association. Earl and Laura were united in marriage in March of 1956 and they continued to live in Lamar until Earl was transferred by SECPA to Springfield in 1974. Laura and Earl's children were all born in Lamar beginning with Ed (1960), Janet (1961), Don (1964), and Peggy (1970). A fifth child, Linda, was stillborn in 1963. Laura was especially proud of her and Earl's children, twelve grandchildren and ten great greandachildren including...Ed and Alanda Babb and their children Gene and Katie Babb; Janet and Warren Schiffer and their children...Chip (Tabitha) Schiffer and children C.J. Womack and Renae Womack...Amy (Leland) Olds and children Taven Schiffer and James Olds...Rosie (Jarred)Masterson and children Kennedy, Carter, Jaxon, and Grant Masterson....Joey (Missy) Schiffer and Colin...Jeff (Kammie) Schiffer and Kamery....and Steven Schiffer. Also, Don (Tammie) Babb and children Kyle and Hope Babb; and Peggy (Kirk) Guder and children Tyler Guder and Christopher Babb. Although Laura did work some outside the home, her real passion in life was family and she happily stayed home to care for grand daughter Rosie when she came along. Through the years "grandma" proudly tended to the needs of other grandchildren as well as the growing cadre of great grandchildren. Being home to baby sit allowed Laura time to create the crocheted dolls and other crafty type projects that she enjoyed, the results of which still adorn and beatify her home. And, Laura loved roses. And, it seems, the roses loved Laura. Every spring and summer Laura's handiwork bursts forth and completely engulfs her little corner of the world in a variety of Mother Nature's colors and smells. And even this year, despite Laura's departure, the kaleidoscope of colors will bloom yet again to remind us of her special gift and her special place in our hearts. Laura Babb passed away at Southeasat Colorado Hospital on Wednesday, March 24, 2010. She was preceded in death by her parents William and Etta Anderson; husband Earl; brother Gus Anderson and sister Lillie Dean. She is survivevd by four children and all those granchildren and great grandchildren as well as nieces and nephews including Shirley Dean. Laura Bell Babb will certainly be missed by family and friends but today we honor her life and the many gifts she shared with all of us.