Barbara Lou Pisel

Barbara L. Pisel, 82, most recently of Sedona, went home to her Heavenly Father on June 12, 2015 after a prolonged battle with dementia. Born to Art and Ida Oxley in 1933 in Winslow, Arizona Barbara spent her childhood and early adult years as a very outgoing and vivacious young woman who was actively involved in a wide range of activities, from participating in the Latin Club and Shooting Club in high school to becoming Navajo County Rodeo Queen. Her outgoing nature and love of people was something that never left her and always attracted others to her. Graduating from Winslow High School in 1951, Barbara soon married Jack L. Pisel, also of Winslow, with whom she journeyed through life until his death in 1985. During the 1950s Barbara and Jack brought their four children into the world, working hard together to provide for them and instilling in each of them a sense of what it means to be loved unconditionally.
In 1964, looking for a new opportunity, the family relocated to Los Alamos, New Mexico where Barbara and Jack managed the family-owned moving and storage business. It was during these years that she really flourished in life, learning to ski and making sure that her children learned too so that they could all enjoy great family times together on the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado. Winters also meant snowmobiling together, along with lots of time tubing and sledding with family and friends. Springs and summers were filled with wonderful family vacations to the beaches of Mexico, California and Hawaii, not just with the family, but with the families of as many friends as Barb could talk into going along for the fun and sun. Always actively involved in her childrens lives and encouraging them to be social, she often hosted parties for them and their friends. Her home was always open to others, whether they were family, close friends, recent acquaintances or friends of her children. During these very busy years, Barbara also went to school in Albuquerque at night and became a licensed real estate agent, a profession that she enjoyed and thrived at for many years. And in her spare time, Barb square danced with Jack across New Mexico and surrounding states, having a wonderful time do-si-doing and building many friendships that would last throughout her lifetime.
Barbara and her family returned to Arizona in 1974, where she settled first in Flagstaff, then in Payson and finally in Sun City. While she worked hard throughout her life, Barbara loved so many other things in life too. She was a wonderful, loving and caring daughter to her mother, whom she cared for during Idas final years of life. She showed the same love to her children, always encouraging each of them to make the most of their lives and to never sell themselves short. She developed a love for floral arranging and participated with other women in Arizona in sharing their creativity and displaying their floral arrangements at shows. Barbara always had a deep appreciation for the outdoors and became an avid hiker, trekking the Grand Canyon, Havasupai and many other beautiful areas of Northern Arizona. She also traveled down the Grand Canyon by raft during these years. Her love for the outdoors and for hiking was something that she shared with her children, instilling that same appreciation in each of them. She was a wonderful grandmother too, inviting her grandchildren to spend time with her each summer when she would take them hiking and spoil them with her love and special gifts.
During the later years of her life, Barbara traveled across much of America and Canada, visiting many of the beautiful gardens, taking in many of the significant historical sites and basking in the beautiful landscapes of both countries. She always cherished traveling, as long as she was sharing it with loved ones or close friends.
Barbaras parents, Art and Ida Oxley; her brother, James Oxley; her husband, Jack Pisel; and her son, Jay Pisel; predeceased her. She is survived by her son, Terry Pisel and his wife Denita; her daughter, Sandra Gelfand and her husband Peter; and her son, Steve Pisel; along with her grandchildren Terry Pisel, Josiah Pisel, Autumn Gelfand, Jenna Pisel, Ryan Carroll, Crystal Pisel, Jesse Pisel, Sierra Gelfand and Anjanette Carroll and great-grandsons Deven and Silas Carroll. A memorial service is scheduled on June 27th at 3 p.m. at Greers Mortuary of Sedona, 2725 W. Highway 89A.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7