2023-2025

Barbara was born in western Kansas. Her parents moved to Commerce City in 1948. They purchased property along Highway 85 and Brighton Blvd. She attended Adams City Elementary, Central and Dupont. She attended Adams City Junior High and Adams City High School, graduating in 1963. She attended Colorado State College, which is now called University of Northern Colorado, graduating with a degree in Education in 1967. She taught elementary physical education and substituting in Denver Public Schools for 7 years. In 1975, she became a flight attendant and travel guide for a Denver based private travel club, PORTS OF CALL. Her next challenge was running Best Yet Bar and Grille with her brother Walter from 1984-1988. Next, she went back to school for a new real estate license. She and her sister-in-law Mary Swank Gomez opened Classic Realty in Commerce City and sold houses. She began buying real estate in Victor, Colorado and started an antique shop traveling every weekend to and from to keep the store open. She sold the antique shop and building in 2021. In 2022, she purchased the Dottie Bakke Victorian House with her friend Jim Kinghorn and they are working with the Commerce City Historical Society to preserve the property.