January 7, 1943 – December 19, 2024

Barbara Jean Kelton, a long-time resident of Sun City, Arizona and former resident of Hayden, Colorado, passed from this world and was received by the Lord on December 19, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona. During her life Barbara knew no stranger and made friends anywhere she went. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and those who cared for her.

Born Barbara Jean Best on January 7, 1943 in Portland, Oregon to Charlotte (Best) Bunn, Barbara spent the early years of her life in Rifle and Silt, Colorado with her mother and sister, Claudette.

On November 14, 1951, Charlotte Best married Charles Bunn, who joined the family not only as husband to Charlotte, but as a father to Barbara and Claudette.

The family lived in Steamboat Springs and then moved to Littleton, Colorado, where Barbara attended Littleton High School and graduated in 1961. Barbara married Gerald Delay and together they had three sons, Jerry, Randy, and Gene. In the middle of having children, Barbara and her family relocated in 1967 to Hayden, Colorado, where she lived happily for many years.

On September 5, 1987, Barbara married Jerald T (Jerry) Kelton, who joined the family along with a daughter and son from his previous marriage, Jolie and Todd Kelton.

Barbara spent her early career with the Hayden School District, helping to raise kids in the community alongside her own. She spent the later part of her career at Mountain Valley Bank, from where she retired in October 2006.

Barbara and Jerry purchased a home in Sun City, Arizona, where they eventually relocated after retirement. As much as Barbara cherished her years in Colorado among her kids and grandkids, she said her favorite place in the world was her and Jerry’s home in Arizona.

Throughout her life she thoroughly enjoyed her kids, her friends, being a grandmother and great-grandmother, reading, crosswords, TV, and especially, church. Barbara attended First United Methodist Church in Sun City, Arizona and regularly fellowshipped with congregation members.

Barbara is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Kelton, her parents, Charlotte Bunn and Charles Bunn, and her brother-in-law George Hixon. She is survived by sister Claudette Hixon, her kids, Jerry (Sandy) Delay, Randy (Jill) Delay, Gene Delay, Jolie (Tommy) Goddard, and Todd (Jenny) Kelton, numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and two former daughters-in-law, Yvonne McAnally, and Roxanne Banks.

A memorial service will be held at noon on Sunday, January 5, 2025 at the First United Methodist Church in Sun City. There will be additional services held in Hayden, Colorado on April 26, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Barbara Kelton Memorial Fund in the care of Mountain Valley Bank, P.O. Box 279, Hayden, CO, 81639, which will be directed to the American Kidney Fund. Donations can also be made in Barbara’s memory to the First United Methodist Church, 9849 N. 105th Ave., Sun City, AZ 85351.