MARTIN, BARBARA FAYE born August 29, 1931 in Tyler, Texas passed away peacefully Sunday, February 11, 2018.
Barb is survived by her husband, Wayne Martin of Wheat Ridge, her son, Daniel Kasik of San Diego, and two daughters Cynthia (William) Balding of Boise, Idaho and Elizabeth (Steven) Gaskin of Arvada, 9 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

She was preceded in death by three children, Joseph Stanley Kasik, Margaret Louise Levalley, and Glenn Richard Kasik and one grandson, Sonny Edmond Selway Balding.

People who knew Barb would tell you that she never met a stranger. Family, friends, and acquaintances shared love and laughter around her Thanksgiving table, not just for the amazing meal that she could prepare; but because she loved to share her light in service to others.

She struggled after a divorce but found a genuine zest for life and love for people. She tended bar to support her family and enjoyed life-long connections with customers and co-workers. She met Gerald (Wayne) Martin while working and stole his heart over hours of conversation and bad jokes. After introducing him to her children Barb knew that he was the one, and they were married in Las Vegas on October 28, 1968 (this year would have marked their 50th anniversary).

Barb later worked as a school bus driver for Jefferson County schools. She also worked as a classroom aid with children who had developmental disabilities learning sign language to communicate with them. She was a devout Catholic and loved to volunteer for her home parish, Our Lady of Fatima in Lakewood, CO.

Barb loved learning a variety of crafts and immersed herself in quilting, crochet and tatting. She loved to sew, garden and cook. On a typical weekend, you could find her tending her garden, volunteering at church, or sharing with friends and family over a home-cooked meal.

She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer in 2000 and told her chances of survival beyond 5 years were small. When she heard this she stunned the oncologist by asking what her chances were after she reached that 5-year threshold. Her tenacity and love for life made her a favorite patient among her doctors whom she grew to love. Her gratitude for their care was the motivation to donate her body for science upon her death. Barb was eventually healed of cancer.

Barbara had genuine love for people and family. She was quick to show charity to others and would give of herself and her skills to help. Her children and family admired her for her ceaseless energy, caring smile and laughter. Barbara’s amazing ability to keep smiling through the most difficult situations helped her to connect with others in profoundly meaningful ways. Her gracious, positive demeanor and almost childlike wonder for this world and life carried into all her interactions with others. Even through her most recent struggles with memory loss and confusion she kept in good spirits. Her ability to connect, light up a room and make us laugh will be forever missed.