Our mother, sister, grandmother, neighbor and friend Barbara (Bobbie) Preece Barrus peaceably passed away on December 24, 2022, in the Utah Valley Hospital. She was 91. Bobbie was born on July 5, 1931, in Vernal Utah. 
She was the 3rd of 6 children born to Clara Noel and John Ronald Preece. She attended school and church in a small farming community called Ashley Utah. She graduated from Vernal High School and attended BYU for a year studying to be a nurse.
She met her husband, Charles (Tunney) R. Barrus, in Cody Wyoming during the summer while she worked waiting tables to earn money to go to college. She was married in September 1950. She made her home in Cody for the next 40 years. They lived on a farm outside Cody, and they had 13 children. (8 sons and 5 daughters) She always felt that a farm was the best place to raise a family. She then moved to Provo and bought a home close to Brigham Young University. She lived there up until 4 months ago when she moved in with her daughter Patti in Springville.
Mom loved so many things. She loved camping, picnics, scrapbooking, reading, music, sports, BYU, the temple, flowers, birds, going for rides and traveling. She eventually became a nurse and worked for many years doing what she loved.
Our mother was very dedicated to her family, friends and the church. All who knew her loved her. She served faithfully in her church callings, but she especially loved scouting and working with the young women. She was the best and the craziest camp leader, and she was credited with helping countless boy scouts receive their Eagle Scout award, including her own sons and grandsons. She loved missionaries and missionary work. In 1995 she served a mission to the Houston East Mission. Many of her sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters have served also. She was so proud of them. She attended the Temple regularly as part of her continued missionary work. All her sons and daughters and grandchildren participated in various sporting events, dance competitions, music concerts and hunting activities and she was very religious in making sure she was present to cheer them on. She would drive hundreds of miles so she could be there to offer support and give a hug and a kiss.
Our Mother could see the good in anyone. She had a deep love of the gospel of Jesus Christ and often talked about her daily talks with God. We will miss her loving smile and her positive outlook of life. Her parents, husband, 3 siblings and 3 sons have preceded her in death. She was so excited to be able to see them again. What a great reunion they will have. Our mother had a great legacy. She had 13 Children, 58 Grandchildren, 76 great grandchildren and 1 great- great grandchild. We will miss her dearly.
Her funeral will be held in the Provo Pleasant View 3rd Ward Chapel, 650 Stadium Ave. Provo Utah, on January 12, 2023. The viewing will be from 9:30-10:30 and the service will be at 11. She will be buried in Cody Wyoming on January 14, 2023. There will be a small service at 10 and a graveside service at 11 in the Riverside-Graham Cemetery. There will be a viewing at the Ballard Funeral Home on January 13th from 6-8:00 at 636 19th St. Cody Wyoming.
Although mom loved flowers, she loved missionaries more so In lieu of flowers please donate to the LDS missionary fund or venmo Taralyn-Jensen-2
Click Here for a livestream of the funeral service
2 Condolences for Barbara (Bobbie) Preece Barrus
Condolences(2)
Todd Wacaser says
January 1, 2023 at 7:14 amGrowing up in the Cody 1st ward, the Barrus family was a big part of my life and contributed greatly to the person I am today. Tim was one of my best friends and I spent countless hours hunting, fishing and hanging out at the Barrus home. Bobbie was like a second mom to all of us and supported our continued pursuit of fun and mischief. She always made us feel welcome and I don’t remember an interaction with her where her face wasn’t beaming with a smile.
Chip was my baseball coach for American Legion and I spent years learning and trying to match his love and knowledge for the game. He taught me how to work hard and have a passion for something.
In all, I met many of the 13 Barrus children and got to spend a lot of time with Chip, Tim and Robyn. One thing was universal with the Barrus family. They loved their family and Bobbie kept them close.
Bobbie is and always will be one of the people who I look up to in this life! The world is a better place because of her!!
Todd Wacaser says
January 1, 2023 at 8:48 amSorry Robin. I just noticed I didn’t proof read very well and spelled your name incorrectly.