Marilyn Barnhart Obituary

Marilyn Francis (Rainbolt) Barnhart passed away at her home in Crestview, Florida on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Born on May 1, 1949, in Burlington, Colorado, to Ben James Rainbolt and Margie Louise (Bowling) Rainbolt, Marilyn lived a life marked by deep faith, quiet resilience, and steadfast love for her family and community.
From an early age, Marilyn faced life's challenges with remarkable strength. Despite living with hearing in only one ear, she never let it hinder her spirit or purpose. As a child, she went through endless hearing tests. Her mom had to visit school every year to make sure she was at the front of the room and not the back row, so she could hear. Growing up, she was sick with Scarlet Fever and had to be quarantined, which was very difficult; not to mention, enduring missing her family. In addition, finding a malignant tumor under her right arm pit and then staying at the Children's Hospital was not an easy task. She was a single mother as well, for seven years while raising two boys.
Growing up, her family spent many road trips visiting the Bowling and Rainbolt family in Kansas. Road trips consisted of all four kids driving five-plus hours once in summer and at Christmas. This was well before cell phones and car movies.
Marilyn's unwavering Christian faith was the cornerstone of her life. She gave her life to the Lord as a young girl and remained faithful to Him through every season. Her life was a testimony to God's grace, defined not by struggle, but by enduring gratitude for His blessings.
In high school, Marilyn was a proud member of the Rainbow Girls, where she served as Worthy Advisor. She later joined the Order of the Eastern Star and continued her family's legacy, serving as Worthy Matron. She graduated from Burlington High School in 1967 and attended Central Business College in Denver where she was roommates with her cousin, Trish Shipman (Rainbolt). On August 16, 1968, during fair week, Marilyn married Gary Johnson at the Baptist Church in Burlington. The couple began their life together in town with their beloved dog, John Henry, and cat, Little Missy. After a few years, they moved to Gary's family farm. They built a life rooted in hard work, faith, and community.
A devoted wife and mother, Marilyn was also the heartbeat of the farm and ranch. Whether helping with the cow/calf operation, sheep and swine operation, driving the grain cart during wheat or corn harvest, preparing hearty meals for the crew, raising beefalo (cross between bison and domestic beef), mowing, or offering a steady hand wherever needed, Marilyn gave herself freely and with love. No one worked harder and she absolutely loved the rural agriculture life. She loved her parents deeply and would help her dad move and lay irrigation pipe.
From 1991 until 2005, Marilyn served as district secretary for the Burlington RE-6J School District. Her warm presence and professionalism made her a trusted and familiar face to generations of students, parents, and staff. Before working for the school district, she also held roles with the courthouse, Henry Hoskins, secretary at the Baptist Church, and the Northeast Colorado tourism bureau.
Marilyn's love of learning never waned. She also earned a farm ranch management certificate, and took classes through Morgan Community College, accounting classes through Northeastern Junior College, and later completed the Colorado State University Master Gardener program. She decided to take the gardener program after accidentally spraying her yard with round-up! Her joy for gardening bloomed into a passion she shared generously; which included sharing her daylilies and hollyhocks that continue to brighten Old Town Burlington, which continues to thrive. She also loved geraniums and would talk to anyone she could about them.
A lifelong member of the First Baptist Church in Burlington and later a faithful attendee of the Gospel Chapel, Marilyn poured her heart into service, whether through Awana, Vacation Bible School, children's Christmas programs, or as a long-time 4-H leader. Her life was rich with giving. Like her father, she never met a stranger and visited with everyone with ease.
She was notoriously late for almost every event. However, she would make up for that by staying late to help clean up and help with whatever the host needed. She would famously say "It's the Rainbolt/Johnson curse" for always being late!
She was also a dedicated member of local women's organizations, including the Home Demonstration Club, which was a club for rural women to help learn/teach how to cook, can, sew, and garden. She served meals at farm sales, built county fair booths, raised and dressed chickens, crafted with care, and supported her neighbors with warmth and devotion. Later, she joined the Bowling cousins, once per year, to quilt in Kansas. She was hooked!
In 2019, Marilyn married Delvin Barnhart and together they moved to Crestview, Florida. Marilyn embraced this new chapter with joy, purpose, and her signature sense of grace. She welcomed her new extended family with unconditional open arms and a big heart. She was able to celebrate various special occasions, eat fresh seafood and home country cooking anytime, and family gatherings. Delvin and Marilyn loved to take joy rides visiting the white beaches, emerald coast waters, state parks, and roaming the countryside. She enjoyed the Florida sunshine, its warm climate, and southern year-round regional green foliage. You could always count on when visiting, she would be in her rocking chair inside their screened porch or watching her animal programs on television in her comfortable recliner chair.
In 2023, she was diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), a rare, degenerative brain disease. True to her nature, she met this final chapter with courage, grace, and the same quite tenacity that defined her life. As her PSP progressed, as did her numerous falls, doctor visits/tests and emergency room visits; however, she mastered and conquered the likes of a super champ. Her resilience, unwavering determined-will, and unbelievably strong bones kept her with us almost six more blessed years. Her body hindered by this illness never dampened her strong and faithful spirit. She was an ideal patient and a blessing to all who encountered her.
Marilyn was a loving and caring wife to Delvin; they enjoyed their time together and even though it was short lived, it was a lifetime for them. Her extended family, friends, and multitude of health caregivers are going to miss Marilyn dearly. She always greeted you with a smile, bright eyes, and amazing heartfelt hugs.
She is survived by her loving husband, Retired Senior Master Sergeant USAF Delvin Barnhart of Crestview, FL; sons, Bradley (Becky) Johnson of Eagle, CO, and Brett (Cait) Johnson of Englewood, CO; stepchildren, Myra (Jesse) Medley of Baker, FL, Carrie (Paul) Castille of Crestview, FL, Eric (Michelle) Sisneros of Panama City, FL, Nicolle Jones of Crawfordville, FL, and Monique (Rob) Tiberio of Naples, FL; grandchildren, Ayla, Stetson, Blaine, and Brynlee; eleven step-grandchildren; and six step-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings: Valerie (Joe) Rhoades of Burlington, CO, Benita (Doug) Howell of Lakewood, CO, and Ben (Pam) Rainbolt of Gilcrest, CO; and cousins, Steve (Judi) Rainbolt of Burlington, CO, Tom (Carolyn) Rainbolt of Greeley, CO, and Trish (Bill) Shipman of Greenwich, OH; as well as many uncles, aunts, cousins. nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ben and Margie (Tiny) Rainbolt; daughter, Mandy Anna Johnson; husband, Gary Johnson; husband, Paul Rhoades; husband, Terry James; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Roy and Elna Johnson; and many uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at Table Mountain Meetings and Events at 16035 Table Mountain Parkway, Golden, Colorado. A Celebration of Life is to be held Saturday, August 16, 2025 from 12:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the home of Delvin and Marilyn's home in Crestview, Florida.
Marilyn's life was full of beauty, cultivated in her garden, shared through her kindness, and lived out in quiet faith. Her legacy lives on in the meals she lovingly prepared, the quilts she stitched with care, the children she guided, and the deep-rooted love she offered to everyone she met. She worked hard, played hard, and loved hardest, and the world is brighter because of her.