Barbara Ann Mortenson was born in Mondamin, IA on November 20,1941 to Harrold (Harry) Dillard Routon and Helen Louise (Martin) Routon. She was the oldest of six children.

Growing up, the family moved often between Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, Missouri, Kansas for her father’s work. She graduated High School in Atchison, Kansas in 1960. She achieved this by being a nanny to her cousins, so she could be at one school for the entire year.

Barb held many jobs over the years, she was a nanny, a store clerk at a department store, dishwasher, waitress, home health aide, factory worker as a seamstress and a car wire harness assembler, janitorial work and housewife.

On July 25, 1962, she married Richard Allen Guatney. They moved to follow work as a ranch hand and eventually landed in Des Moines, where he worked as a mechanic. This was where they were first contacted by Jehovah’s Witnesses on Christmas Day. The couple would study in the evenings and well into the night. They appreciated getting so many questions answered from the Bible. While continuing to study the Bible, the couple bought property in rural Chariton. They would work during the week and spend the weekend building their house. Eventually they moved into a single room of the basement and became official residents of Chariton. Barb definitely grew roots here and never wanted to move from her house. She lost her husband in a tragic accident in 1967.

She met and later married James Montie Mortenson in February 18, 1968. From this marriage, two children were born. A son James (Jamie) Montie II and a daughter, Kimberly Kay. Barb continued her study of the Bible and symbolized her dedication to Jehovah in May 17,1971. She often served as an axillary pioneer and was able to be a full-time pioneer for a couple years.

Barb was always willing to help friends if she could. Whether this was with housework, rides, caregiving or just to visit.

Barb loved Jehovah’s creation. She appreciated and maintained several gardens, both flowers and vegetables plus a fruit orchard. She loved animals of all sorts, Over the years, she had the typical cats and dogs, but also parakeets, doves, a lamb, goats, rabbits, a special duck named Molly, geese, ferrets and of course horses. She was passionate about horses and had several at all times until only a few years ago. The last few years, her faithful companion was Jimmy. He was with her always at the assisted living and was able to visit her everyday while at the nursing home too.

Barb had many collections, horses, carousels, girl figurines, Pepsi, jewelry and was well known for wearing beautiful hats.

Barb was preceded in death by Richard Allen Guathey, her parents, Harry and Helen Routon, her sisters, Harriet Sue Catlett and Linda Marie Bueoy.

She is survived by her children, James (Jamie) and Kimberly (Kim) (Donovan) Waters, two brothers, Kenneth (Kenny) Lee (Romi) Routon and Charles (Chuck) (Barb) Routon and one sister Marjorie Bowen. She’s also survived by three generations of nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be directed to Watch Tower Society. You can go to jw.org for donations.