Barbara Anne Brinkerhoff, 91, born Barbara Anne Taylor, passed away peacefully on Oct. 14, 2024, at Aspen Creek Assisted Living facility in Kenai, Alaska. She was the daughter of Fannie Elizabeth and Herbert Henry Taylor II.
Barbara grew up in Alamosa where she graduated from high school. She was active in the glee club and band. At the age of 17, she worked and saved up to buy herself a piano. She was also voted queen of her chapter of Future Homemakers of America.
She continued her education in Alamosa at Adams State College, where she received her bachelor of arts degree in secondary education and music education. Barbara worked part-time at the Hamburger Inn while going to college.
While there, she came up with her own entry on the menu. Her claim to fame was “The Thing”. It was basically an open-faced hamburger, dressed like an enchilada, and it became popular on campus. She also earned letters in band and chorus.
Once Barbara graduated college she taught music at Sargent School, a small rural community near Alamosa. She later moved to Farmington, N.M., where she was contracted to teach music at the municipal schools of Farmington.
After moving to Alaska, she taught music and chorus at Nikiski Elementary School in Nikiski and Kenai Central High School in Kenai.
In addition to her love of music, she was gifted with a green thumb and loved gardening. Barbara collected many ribbons for her produce and flowers entered in the local fair. She even developed a tomato variety that was named after her.
She was an avid member of the North Star United Methodist church in Nikiski. She played the organ or piano almost every Sunday and eventually volunteered her musical talents to form a choir there. During the summer months, she took care of the flower beds around the church and would often supply flowers for the altar from her flower gardens.
Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Russell (Brink) Brinkerhoff, both her parents and a younger brother, Herbert James Taylor III.
She is survived by her children, Becky Baker, Bob and Leslie Baker, Randy and Suzan Baker, Barbara Brinkerhoff and Bob Brinkerhoff. She had 20 grandchildren, 37 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren.
There will be a memorial service held on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, at 2 p.m. at North Star United Methodist Church. Janice Carlton will be officiating.
Donations can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association online or 225 Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.
