Barbara Demaree

Barbara Demaree, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and master teacher of ballet, passed away peacefully in her home in Fort Wayne, on December 4, 2023. Born in Bradford, UK on December 31, 1935, to parents Albert Hahn and Agnes Booth, Barbara dedicated her life to the art of dance and the cultivation of beauty, both in her professional career and personal pursuits. Barbara grew up in Bradford, Yorkshire England, the daughter of pork butchers during WW2. Barbara's passion for ballet was ignited when her mother sent her to a ballet lesson with a neighborhood friend, leading her to attend The Bush Davies Theatrical Boarding School in London, England. After graduating from Bush Davies, Barbara danced in the Continental Ballet and Pantomimes in London, Windsor, and Edinburgh. She helped recruit 6 other dancers to join the US Army Special Services in Germany to entertain the troops where she met and fell in love with her fellow performer, Daniel Browder Demaree. They were married in Berchtesgaden, Germany on April 28, 1956. The groom brought his bride home to Orange County California in the summer of 1956. After the birth of their first son, the family relocated to the San Francisco Bay area where Barbara and Dan became infused in the arts community. She performed as a dancer and actress in theater productions, in particular, her leading role in "The Fantasticks" to critical acclaim. They moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1968 where she began teaching ballet for Larry Boyette at Ballet Arts Boulder and working as a choreographer for local musical productions at Nomads theater. Barbara along with her husband Dan were both instrumental in contributing to the arts scene in Boulder, Barbara as a dancer and choreographer, and Dan as a pianist in the local jazz scene. She acquired ownership of Ballet Arts Boulder in the mid 1980's and was instrumental in building a vibrant dance community, including the formation of the Boulder Ballet. Barbara became the resident choreographer for Boulder's Dinner Theater in 1977 where she choreographed over 60 productions in her 15 years there. Barbara received the Daily Camera Pacesetter Award for Arts and Entertainment in 1996 and was an honoree in 2014 for the Dairy Center Artistic Achievement. She was widely celebrated for her expertise, commitment, and the grace she brought to her profession. After her husband died in 1992, she continued to enjoy live music and travelling. She married Thomas Neet (1925-2000) in 1997. She loved taking road trips with her good friend Robin and dog Bailey, as well a summer in Italy, and to Yorkshire to visit her sister. She continued to mentor the dance community by attending rehearsals and performances, teaching the Saturday ballet class, "Barbara's Class", into her late 70's. Barbara was an avid reader and loved working in creating her British flower garden, and feeding the birds and squirrels. Barbara is survived by her three children, Paul (Cyndi) Demaree, Philip (Kathy) Demaree, and Kristen (Seth Premo) Demaree, her sister Rena Johnson, her niece Francine and nephew Miles, two grandchildren (Abbi and Allison) and 4 great-grandchildren (Brady, Olivia, Porter and Archer). There will be a memorial service held this summer in Boulder, Colorado, date to be determined. Barbara's spirit will continue to inspire all who knew her, and her legacy will live on in the hearts of her loved ones and students. We invite you to share your memories of Barbara and upload photos of her to the memorial page, as a tribute to her remarkable life. Sheets & Childs Funeral Home has been entrusted with these arrangements.