Barbara Jean Chiles

Barbara Jean Blackburn Chiles, 85, passed away on Tuesday, October 13, 2026.

Barbara was born on April 3, 1941, in Hutchinson, Kansas. She was the oldest child of Harold and Mary Reed Blackburn of Stafford, Kansas. Barbara spent her growing up years in this community until graduating from Stafford High School in 1959. She married Dennis Chiles on September 3, 1961, and they lived in Manhattan, Kansas while both finished education degrees from Kansas State University in 1963.

After obtaining teaching jobs in the Park Hill School District, Barbara and her husband moved to Parkville, Missouri. There she taught for 28 years in elementary schools, Thomas B. Chinn, Line Creek, and Graden, followed by 7th grade Reading in both Plaza and Lakeview Middle Schools. Master’s and Ed. Specialist degrees from UMKC were earned in 1986 and 1990.

Barbara enjoyed an active life with many and varied interests: avid reader of books, travel with friends and husband, KC Rep theater and other theater groups in Kansas City, Democratic party associations, national parks and wildlife, and her cats. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, Platte Purchase DAR, and a Life Member of both KSU and UMKC Alumni Associations. Barbara was a lifelong member of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) beginning with the First Christian Church in Stafford. She was very active at Park Hill Christian Church when living in Parkville. After moving to Olathe, KS in 2008, she attended Saint Andrew Christian Church. She later attended United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, KS.

After retirement, Barbara enjoyed volunteer work at Southern Platte Emergency Assistance Center Food Pantry and St. Luke’s Northland Hospital, and later volunteered over 2500 hours at St. Luke’s South Hospital.

One of the highlights of her life were the five summers of 1980-84 when the whole family worked on a ranch camp in Sunlight Valley, Wyoming, near Yellowstone Park’s northeast entrance outside of Cody, WY.

Survivors include her husband of 65 years, Dennis; her two daughters, Amy Ast and Amanda (Craig) Hillman; her four grandsons, Zachary Ast, Samuel Ast, Jack Hillman and Harrison Hillman; and her sister, Mary Katherine (Wayne) Witwer. Barbara was preceded in death by her brother, Warner Blackburn.

Memorial contributions may be made in Barbara’s memory to Nora E. Larabee Memorial Library, Kansas City Public Library, Lawrence Public Library or a library of your choice.