Barbara Elmore

Barbara (Bobbie) Jean Elmore (nee Briskey) age 90 of Kansas City MO passed away April 7, 2023 in Kansas City, MO. Memorial services will be held on Thursday April 13, 2023 at Floral Hills in Kansas City, Mo. The family suggests donations to the Salvation Army.

Bobbie was born November 3, 1932 at home in Rathbun, Iowa to Julio and Mary Briskey (nee Posovitch). Rathbun was a small community where the elders of the community were in general either emigrants from Croatia and Italy or first generation Americans.

The men earned their living mining coal and the women cared for their children and their men. Times were difficult economically and the work for the miners, their women, and the children was onerous. Bobbie often reflected upon how difficult it was for her mother to take care of the pi clothes of three miners (her father and two of his brothers) when the only available device was a hand washboard. Despite the difficulties they encountered, Bobbie always said it was a beautiful place to be raised.

Everyone was collegial and they all helped one another and somehow found ways to have fun and love and be loved. Bobbie’s later life was to be shaped by the work ethic displayed by her parents, others in the community and by their mutual caring and love for each other.

Her first nine years of schooling were in the Rathbun school system. The next year the Rathbun school system was closed and she attended high school in the nearby town of Moravia, Iowa and graduated in 1950.She enjoyed her school years and her classmates, was active in girls basketball and theater, and as she would say a relatively good student. As with many young ladies of that vintage her education focused mainly on secretarial and office skills. Upon graduation it was her families ’wish that she find a job and a mate near home.

Bobbie had greater ambitions, so at the age of seventeen she moved to Des Moines and found a job with Bankers Life Insurance in the typing pool. During the ensuing several years she enjoyed her work and activities in the city of Des Moines. She often referred to the large number of apartments and female roommates she encountered during that period. While she enjoyed her co-workers and supervisors she also became increasingly aware that young women faced a decidedly difficult situation in achieving deserved advancement. Convinced that she had the skills and ambition to secure a better job and a more fulfilling life she moved to Denver, Colorado in anticipation of meeting her goals.

In a relatively short period of time she secured a position in Shell Oil Companies regional office in the typing. While she was disappointed at having to start in the typing pool she remained convinced that her abilities would eventually lead to a position as a private secretary to an executive. In a relatively short period of time her skills, work ethic, and out-going personality lead to a promotion in the accounting department.

She liked the work and her supervisors and felt she was in sight of her goal. However, as she began to apply for openings for private secretary positions, she would not be selected. What disappointed her most was that she felt certain her abilities were greater than the persons being selected. Nonetheless, she maintained her positive attitude and her work ethic and hoped for the best.

Alas, the trend continued. Finally, in desperation she went to one of the selecting officials and asked for an explanation. He was cordial and explained that it was the policy of the top official at the regional office that all private secretaries have college degrees. While disappointed she recognized that she had a good job and the top regional official often had relatively short tenures and perhaps she still had an opportunity. Shortly thereafter, the top regional official departed and almost simultaneously a private secretary position became available. The new regional director when asked by the selecting supervisor whether the college degree requirement for private secretary was still the policy and he answered “just select the best person”. Bobbie was selected and continued her winning ways even to the point of being the fill-in for the regional director’s secretary when she was indisposed.

Bobbie was attractive and had always had her share of male suitors but had never found one with whom she wanted to share her life. In 1967, while visiting her parents in Rathbun, Iowa they introduced her to an engineer working at a dam being constructed near her home town. There was an immediate mutual attraction and for the next two years they dated as often as time and distance would allow.

On November 11, 1969, Bobbie and John decided that they would be assets to each other and they were married in Denver, Colorado. Bobbie having had a successful career agreed to a change in venue and became a homemaker, secretary, advisor, hostess and John’s manager. Bobbie was well prepared for these endeavors by her virtue of upbringing and her extensive experience in the business world.

John’s job carried him from one project to another at a fairly rapid pace. As a consequence, there was a lot of packing, moving, making new friends, changing bank accounts, ect. Which Bobbie handled without assistance from John or others. Bobbie often questioned the strange circumstances that the company always had need for John at some distant project a week before and a week after moving date. Nevertheless she handled each and every task with aplomb.

Due in no small part to Bobbie, John’s career began to advance rapidly after their marriage and her workload increased in like manner. More social gatherings, conferences, parties, ect. Her personality, culinary skills, and as the hostess with the mostess she undoubtedly was of great importance in furthering their lives and career. John always said the best decision he ever made was the day he and Bobbie were married. In a further comment he said “since that day Bobbie has been my constant loving companion, banker, bookkeeper, secretary, outstanding hostess, advisor, and always my inspiration.

Their life together was full and complete except for not having children. Bobbie had a great affinity for children and was wounded deeply by the fact they were never blessed with a child. But once it became clear it was not to be she focused her attention and love on her nieces, nephews, the neighbors’ kids, and those pf friends. As regards the neighbor kids, and remember there were lots of neighborhoods in her life, the youngsters always congregated at the Elmore’s. Bobbie was always ready to play games, comfort, read, console, and treat them. She was commonly called the ‘Cookie Lady” in all those of many neighborhoods.

Bobbie was a caring, loving, and amicable person who endeavored always to see the best in people. She lived her life in accord with the golden rule “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Her family and work were the preeminent drivers in her life but if time permitted she enjoyed bowling and spectator sports particularly the Kansas University basketball team and the Kansas City Royals.

She was a member of the St. Andrews Catholic Church.

Bobbie was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband of over 50 years her niece Susan Bernard, family and, friends.

She will be greatly missed.


FOTO: Private