Barbara Jean Durfee

Barbara J. Durfee, 85, of Caldwell passed away August 14, 2015. A celebration of her life will be held Saturday, August 22nd at 2:00 p.m. at the Nampa Civic Center.

Barbara Jean Gompert was born September 27, 1929 in Mitchell, Nebraska, the second of four children of Gerhardt and Florence (Rice) Gompert. Although she grew up during the Depression and the Dust Bowl, Barbara enjoyed a happy childhood with her loving family and extended family in the close-knit farming communities in the Platte River Valley of western Nebraska.

After graduating from Mitchell High School, Barbara attended Central Business College in Denver. While attending college, she worked as a nanny to help pay for her education. In April, 1948, she married Fred L. Green of Bridgeport, Nebraska. They raised four children, and when the kids were in grade school, the family moved to Nampa. Barb went back to school to become a medical secretary and worked for a group of doctors at the Nampa Medical Center. After Fred died in 1970, Barb attended a class reunion in Mitchell and reconnected with her classmate, Jim Durfee. Barb and Jim were married in August, 1972 and enjoyed 43 wonderful years together. They owned and operated All American Homes in Greeley, Colorado for 20 years, and the successful business allowed them to travel the world. They retired to Caldwell in 1995. Barb enjoyed bowling on women’s leagues in Greeley and Caldwell, where she made enduring friendships. She and her bowling buddies shared many fun trips to Nationals all over the country. She did love to travel! Her other passions included reading, Jeopardy! and the Denver and Boise State Broncos. But the central focus of her life was her family. She blessed them with her sweet and optimistic disposition, her sense of humor and beautiful smile, and her unconditional love.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband and an infant son, Gregory Vance Green, and by her brothers, Wesley and Larry Gompert. She is survived by her husband, Jim Durfee of Caldwell, sons David (Chris) Green of Caldwell and Martin (Barbara) Green of Wilder, and daughters Wendy Green of Indian Valley and Dian Scott of Nampa, stepdaughters Barbara (Clyde) Schaneman of Scottsbluff, Nebraska and Karen (Jim) Herigstad of Minot, North Dakota, sister Norma (Dale) Bockhahn of Colorado Springs, Colorado, ten grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. Memorials may be made in Barbara’s name to Boys Town Nebraska, the Idaho Youth Ranch or the charity of your choice. Arrangements are under the direction of the Nampa Funeral Home, Yraguen Chapel where an online guest book is available at www.nampafuneralhome.com

 Service Information