BARBARA A. McROBERTS

Barbara A (McGowan) McRoberts, 84, of Gurley, Nebraska passed away Thursday morning, November 28, 2024, at Country House Residence in Elkhorn, Nebraska, where she resided since April of this year. She was born on October 8, 1940, to John and Genevieve McGowan in Omaha, Nebraska where she grew up and lived until her mid 20’s. She attended Holy Name for grammar school, graduated from Duchesne High School, and received her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Creighton University.

After a few years teaching at Crestridge Elementary and traveling to Europe and Hawaii with close friends during her summer breaks, Barbara met the love of her life, Jerry McRoberts, in Omaha. They were married on July 29, 1967. Later they moved to Utah, living there for a few years while Jerry completed his master’s degree. It was in Utah on April 27, 1972, that their beloved daughter, Brooke McRoberts, was born and completed their family. Soon after Brooke was born, they decided to move to Gurley, Nebraska where Jerry, along with his father and brother, started the McRoberts Game Farm, which became their forever home.

Barbara, or “Blabla” as her family called her, loved living in her small community where she and Jerry developed lifelong friendships and became well known farmers and ranchers over the years. Barbara supported Jerry’s passion for raising exotic animals, such as llamas, yak, miniature donkeys, and wallabies just to name a few. In addition to being a farmer’s wife and all that entailed, Barbara loved to teach, and spent most of her teaching career working for Leyton Public Schools. As much as she loved teaching, there was nothing more important to Barbara than her family. Jerry, Barbara, and Brooke loved their many nights of singing around the family piano, dining at the best restaurants while on vacation, attending plays and Broadway shows, spending time in Vail, Cabo, New York, and Cozumel each year, as well as the many family traditions they developed over the years. Barbara could listen to Brooke sing for hours and hours, and both she and Jerry were known for playing Brooke’s music any chance they could. They often referred to themselves as the “Three Musketeers” and felt strongly about making the most out of life and truly cherishing each and every moment.

Barbara, unfortunately, suffered great loss later in life. Jerry passed away in 2010 and then she lost Brooke in 2017. She also lost her sister-in-law, Cathie McRoberts in 2011, and brother-in-law, Tom Luby in 2019, both of whom she was very close to. Despite all her loss, Barbara pushed forward with love and grace, always focusing on what a blessed life she had lived, one that was full of love, adventures, and memories. She enjoyed her quiet time on the farm tending to her favorite camel, Fred, many llamas and donkeys, as well as her cherished garden. She almost never missed watching a Nebraska Volleyball or Creighton Basketball game and enjoyed attending local Leyton High School sporting events whenever possible. She loved talking sports and took pleasure in sharing her knowledge of college basketball, especially of the Big East Conference. She frequently took trips to Omaha, Lincoln, Arizona, and Colorado, where she enjoyed spending time with her siblings, nieces, and nephews. She loved having conversations via phone, text, and Facebook with family and friends, and rarely missed an opportunity to attend a family event, a dance competition, or special occasion with her loved ones.

Barbara was survived by her loving sisters, Mary Jo Luby and Geraldine Frost, and her brother whom she fondly referred to as “The Godfather”, John “Michael” McGowan. She was also loved and survived by her sister-in-law, Maggie McGowan, her brother-in-law, Doug Frost, as well as her nieces and nephews, Crisi Luby Brown, Steven Luby, Jeff and Faith Luby, John and Stacy McGowan, Stacy and Chris Richards, Kirsten and Justin Harris, and Tiffany and Zach Stalder. Mario and Mari Coronado and Doug Cape were cherished members of her extended family whom she also loved deeply. Where Barbara was not blessed with grandchildren of her own, and loved all her great nieces and nephews, she was especially close with Brooklyn, Jaya, and Mia Richards, as well as Maca and Almu Coronado and considered them her grandchildren at heart. Barbara was also blessed to be a part of the McRoberts family where Wayne and Heather McRoberts, Julie and Craig Wilson, Keenan and Jacqueline McRoberts, Carmen and Ryan Anderson, Brett and Michelle Wilson, and Jarod Wilson and Mike Bierschenk, along with their children, all shared a special place in her life and heart.

In addition to Jerry, Brooke, Cathie, and Tom, Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, John and Genevieve McGowan, and her in-laws, Kenneth and Eula McRoberts.

A Celebration of Life in honor of Barbara will be held on Friday, December 6, 2024, at 6:00pm at Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler (7805 W Center Rd, Omaha, Nebraska 68124). Given Barbara’s well-known love for sweets, a small dessert reception will follow. Spring was Barbara’s favorite season of the year, and in honoring Barbara’s wishes for her, Jerry, and Brooke to be buried together in Gurley, Nebraska, a hometown Celebration of Life and Burial will be held on May 3, 2025. If you feel compelled to do something in her name, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Leyton Public Schools Foundation, which was a foundation close to her heart.

BARBARA A. McROBERTS