Barbara Jean "Bobbie" Pickerel

Barbara Jean “Bobbie” Pickerel 1935-2026

The woman most affectionately known as Bobbie, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 1st, 2026. Miss Bobbie was a force of nature, and a modern-day renaissance woman who loved unconditionally.

Perhaps Bobbie developed true grit as a result of being born in 1935 during the Great Depression. Born on June 4th, 1935, she escaped the dust bowl of the plains of Granada, Colorado and moved to Pueblo in search of a better opportunity. She had two sisters, Marge Sweany and Bonnie Cobine. Bobbie always spoke fondly about her time on the family farm and her childhood antics, but never more fondly than she spoke about the love of her life, George Pickerel, who she met at Centennial High School in 1951, after moving to Pueblo her sophomore year of high school.

A start like Bobbie’s makes a person self-reliant, and hardworking, while also teaches that happiness does not come from money or things – it comes from being grateful for what you have and the love of those you spend your time with.

Bobbie often told the story of the final month of her high school career in June of 1953, where she graduated on 3rd, turned 18 years old on the 4th and by June 21st, she and George were married. The story often ended with wise words such as “When you know, you know.” Or “When life gives you the opportunity to say yes, you do it.” George, having waited for Bobbie to graduate, enlisted in the service and was soon off to basic training before being stationed all over the country. Bobbie would take jobs as an accountant and secretary, she often spoke about her love of numbers and math, but in true Bobbie fashion, she would eventually join George in Texas, where she candidly loved to tell the stories of “George’s service buddies.” Wild stories of working all day, followed by nights of spirits, friends who were like family and a few details we all believe she left out on purpose.

Not long after Texas, came the children. First came her boy Scott (Tess) Pickerel, followed by her girl Tracy Baird. Their early years of marriage and family were full of adventures and a bit of travel. But make no mistake, while she would have followed George anywhere, Bobbie was the matriarch and the chief of her tribe. She was the knot that held together a rope of many strings. Pueblo was always home and where she knew they belonged.

When Bobbie and George settled on Dundee Lane in the Belmont area, she instantly loved her community. She was affectionately known as the “Lunch Lady” at Belmont Elementary and eventually went on to run the snack bar at the Belmont Club for many years. When her kids became teenagers, Bobbie had confidently raised children who understood the importance of loving others deeply and creating a home that everyone wanted to be a part of, often opening her home to Scott and Tracy’s friends. None she loved more than her bonus son, Jerry (Rene) Hicks. Bobbie was “mom” to so many and loved by all. In their time, Bobbie and George loved their Native American Indian heritage and also participated in Black Powder Club. Bobbie could create amazing creations of leather and beads. Handy and crafty, she was always finding ways to create beauty from the most ordinary materials.

When Bobbie became a grandma, first with the birth of Scott and Tess’ children Nick (Taryn) and Katie Pickerel, then with Tracy’s son Calvin, her role of “grammy” became the most important job of her life. She helped care for all three kids, teaching each one different and valuable lessons. Nick was her “baby bear,” the mischievous go-getter. More like her than she cared to admit, Bobbie loved to help Nick come up with his next great idea. Katie was her “sugar,” the sweet firecracker and Bobbie’s only granddaughter. Somehow if there was playful “trouble” to be had, Katie and Bobbie were usually the culprits. Katie was also the only person on the planet allowed to call her “Barbara Jean.”  Calvin was her “Sunny.” Strong, quiet and looking a whole lot like George, Calvin was the puzzle-doer and the porch-sitter who could get her to talk for hours about a life none of us ever experienced with her and tell jokes until she made your stomach hurt from laughter. When Bobbie had the honor of becoming a great grandma to Jayce Vigil and Reese Pickerel, she unlocked a new love in her heart. Bobbie was meant to be a grammy.

When George passed in 1997, we saw a side of Bobbie that we only grew to love more. As a woman who never had a drivers license and spent most of her life doing odd jobs, we watched as there became nothing Bobbie wouldn’t try. Whether it be building ponds with her own hands and growing incredible gardens, becoming very versed in power tools, tearing down sheds by herself with just a crowbar, or raising all kinds of animals. Bobbie was a Jill of all trades – independent and free as free could be – she was a quiet stereotype and rule breaker, something that only made her more of an endearing person.

Bobbie spoke humbly and kept her own counsel. When she did speak, she always said yes. Yes to supporting someone, yes to loving them, yes to stepping out of her comfort zone – simply yes. She may not have wanted to be the center of attention, but she wanted to be at the table wherever that table may have been in this world because she was curious and willing to learn. Later in her life, she was not much of a traveler, but boy, was she a supporter. She had an uncanny way of always letting you know she had your back. She was well known for cleaning up scrapes and taking care of others, she always had the best snacks, a refrigerator stocked with iced tea and Pepsi, and somehow made up some of the most ridiculous recipes that still tasted amazing, but she most infamously was known for sitting on a bucket in her strawberry patch in the pouring rain for 2 straight days in 2001 to help the Pueblo South Colts baseball team win the State Championship because she had convinced herself that her prayers to the heavens and refusal to move from that bucket was the reason good things were happening 100 miles away – something that we, to this day refuse to believe otherwise.

Bobbie’s willingness to love anyone and try anything meant that she not only held countless jobs in her life, but it also created a life rich with experience, skill, empathy, and wisdom. She was the first one to say “I’ll try that” or “It never hurts to ask.” Or her favorite saying, “I think I could do it on my own.” She encouraged her children and grandchildren to do the same which inspired them to try new things – sometimes hard things. When they failed, she’d say “That’s alright. Did you learn something? Maybe, don’t do that again. What do you want to try next?” When they succeeded, she was also the first one they wanted to tell because she was always genuinely thrilled. Whether getting their degree, celebrating a good day on the golf course, having a baby or simply getting a bartender position at the local bar, it was bravery and effort that mattered to her, not prestige.

One of Bobbie’s favorite and well-known tricks was her “Irish Goodbye.” When Bobbie was ready to go, she simply went. No need for discussion or fanfare. You would just turn around and suddenly she was gone, knowing that it is best to leave while you are still having fun. And now, she has done it again. Our family was able to have the most beautiful 11 days with her before she passed, filled with laughter, tears and closure. We want to take a moment to thank the University Park Care Center staff for all of their love and support through this difficult time and the years leading up to this moment. But as always, Bobbie left us all with some important lessons about how to live this one precious life: Make your family your friends, love unconditionally, if something needs doing, just do it yourself, be curious, be willing to try, and always say “yes.”

Bobbie Pickerel could only be described as “unconventional” which is why it should not come as a surprise that the celebration of her life will be the same. She loved nothing more than a good party with friends who are like family. Our family will be holding an open house at A1 Tee Off at 2284 Rawlings Blvd, Pueblo, CO on February 22nd, 2026 from 1:00pm to 5:00pm. Please simply come and enjoy food, have a drink in her honor and listen to or tell your favorite story of Bobbie. Even in her final days, she encouraged us to laugh more than we cried, which is exactly what we intend to do to honor her.

In lieu of flowers, monetary donations can be made to Runyon Field Sports Complex, (400 Stanton Ave, Pueblo, CO 81003) in honor of Bobbie Pickerel. The family will have a bench constructed in her name so that she can forever take a seat, have a Pepsi and listen to a game.