Barbara
Barbara Honey
d. February 14, 2016
Barbara Honey, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 14, 2016. Her children and family members were at her side. Barbara was born in Manhattan, KS on November 11, 1933. The youngest of three children of Orville and Lovey Hunt, she graduated from Manhattan High School in 1951 and then attended Kansas State University. During her first semester, she met her future husband Francis Honey, whose Engineering academic advisor happened to be Barbara’s father, Professor OD Hunt! Both were advised to take Algebra and the rest is history! They were married in Manhattan on Valentine's Day, 1953. Barbara often said Francis was the only good thing she got out of Algebra.
As their family grew to include 2 sons and 2 daughters, Barbara willingly embarked on every adventure Francis’ career took, from Pasadena to Denver, even Japan and the Philippines. The family finally settled in Los Alamos, NM in 1972. Once all of the children were in school, Barbara began her career at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she worked as an administrative assistant for 19 years. Throughout the 43 years Barbara lived in Los Alamos she was always very generous with her time as an active volunteer for several organizations including: Civitan’s, The American Red Cross, The Good Sam’s Club, Kiwanis, and the Women’s Hospital Auxiliary. She organized the blood drive for several years and if you ever donated blood in Los Alamos, you were sure to enjoy one of Barbara’s famous egg salad sandwiches afterwards.
Barbara maintained long lasting friendships with everyone she interacted with whether it was through work, playing bridge, water aerobics, or volunteering. In all her circles, she was known for her joy and infectious laughter and she had a way of connecting people to one another and was a big reason people enjoyed being a part of the group. Barbara also provided a welcoming home in which all of her children’s friends felt comfortable.
Throughout her life, Barbara loved adventure and was willing to try new things and go to new places. She loved boating and camping with friends in the summer and after retirement, traveling in the RV with her husband, sometimes for months at a time. Even after her husband’s death in September of 2012, Barbara continued to enjoy many adventurous activities with her children including white water rafting, roller coasters, and zip lining even into her 80’s. When she wasn’t looking for adventure, Barbara enjoyed the solitude of reading a good book and faithfully watching Masterpiece Theater on PBS.
Barbara shared and appreciated Francis’ love for animals and over the years opened the door to many dogs, cats, snakes, iguanas, hamsters, opossums, a skunk, a rooster, and even a squirrel monkey. In honor of her husband’s love of snakes, Barbara gave Francis an indigo snake on the occasion of their wedding.
Although there is sadness in saying goodbye to Barbara, there is comfort that she reunited with Francis on the day of their 64th wedding anniversary. She is survived by her son Aaron (Robert Villegas) of Los Alamos; son Wayne of Santa Fe; daughter Meagan Dowler (Robert) of Fairbanks, AK; and daughter Rachel Askeland (John) of Ft. Collins, CO; grandchildren: Hayden (Destiney), Cameron, Rebecca Dowler of Fairbanks, AK, Julie (Jesse) Monroe of Irasburg, VT; Matthew Evans of Bonner’s Ferry, ID and Justin Evans of Washington, DC; Gracie and Luke Askeland of Ft. Collins, CO, Elijah and Liam Honey of Santa Fe; great granddaughter, Emma Dowler of Fairbanks, AK; a second great granddaughter due in June; several nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to join the family in a celebration of her life to be held from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at Cottonwood on the Greens, 4244 Diamond Drive in Los Alamos. The family of Barbara Honey has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley. 505-747-7477 – www.devargasfuneral.com
As their family grew to include 2 sons and 2 daughters, Barbara willingly embarked on every adventure Francis’ career took, from Pasadena to Denver, even Japan and the Philippines. The family finally settled in Los Alamos, NM in 1972. Once all of the children were in school, Barbara began her career at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where she worked as an administrative assistant for 19 years. Throughout the 43 years Barbara lived in Los Alamos she was always very generous with her time as an active volunteer for several organizations including: Civitan’s, The American Red Cross, The Good Sam’s Club, Kiwanis, and the Women’s Hospital Auxiliary. She organized the blood drive for several years and if you ever donated blood in Los Alamos, you were sure to enjoy one of Barbara’s famous egg salad sandwiches afterwards.
Barbara maintained long lasting friendships with everyone she interacted with whether it was through work, playing bridge, water aerobics, or volunteering. In all her circles, she was known for her joy and infectious laughter and she had a way of connecting people to one another and was a big reason people enjoyed being a part of the group. Barbara also provided a welcoming home in which all of her children’s friends felt comfortable.
Throughout her life, Barbara loved adventure and was willing to try new things and go to new places. She loved boating and camping with friends in the summer and after retirement, traveling in the RV with her husband, sometimes for months at a time. Even after her husband’s death in September of 2012, Barbara continued to enjoy many adventurous activities with her children including white water rafting, roller coasters, and zip lining even into her 80’s. When she wasn’t looking for adventure, Barbara enjoyed the solitude of reading a good book and faithfully watching Masterpiece Theater on PBS.
Barbara shared and appreciated Francis’ love for animals and over the years opened the door to many dogs, cats, snakes, iguanas, hamsters, opossums, a skunk, a rooster, and even a squirrel monkey. In honor of her husband’s love of snakes, Barbara gave Francis an indigo snake on the occasion of their wedding.
Although there is sadness in saying goodbye to Barbara, there is comfort that she reunited with Francis on the day of their 64th wedding anniversary. She is survived by her son Aaron (Robert Villegas) of Los Alamos; son Wayne of Santa Fe; daughter Meagan Dowler (Robert) of Fairbanks, AK; and daughter Rachel Askeland (John) of Ft. Collins, CO; grandchildren: Hayden (Destiney), Cameron, Rebecca Dowler of Fairbanks, AK, Julie (Jesse) Monroe of Irasburg, VT; Matthew Evans of Bonner’s Ferry, ID and Justin Evans of Washington, DC; Gracie and Luke Askeland of Ft. Collins, CO, Elijah and Liam Honey of Santa Fe; great granddaughter, Emma Dowler of Fairbanks, AK; a second great granddaughter due in June; several nieces and nephews. Friends are invited to join the family in a celebration of her life to be held from 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 20, 2016 at Cottonwood on the Greens, 4244 Diamond Drive in Los Alamos. The family of Barbara Honey has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley. 505-747-7477 – www.devargasfuneral.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Barbara Honey, please visit our flower store.