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Ira Earl (Boots) Barto

Posted 2009-01-28 by Judy Wight Branson
The Sedona Red Rock News, Sedona, Arizona
Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007

Ira Earl (Boots) Barto, 90, of Cottonwood, Ariz., died Saturday, Jan. 20, 2007.

Boots was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings. Survivors include his wife, LaVersa; sons Gary, Ron [K.J.], Ray [Mary]; eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter; a nephew and a niece.

A memorial service takes place Saturday, Jan. 27, 4 p.m., at Mountain View United Methodist Church.

Send memorial contributions to Mountain View United Methodist Church, c/o Youth Fund for Camping, 901 S. 12th St., Cottonwood, Ariz., 86326.
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The Verde Independent, Cottonwood, AZ
January 25, 2007

Ira Earl "Boots" Barto, 90, of Cottonwood, died at home Jan. 20, 2007. Boots was born in Melrose, New Mexico, in the days of the covered wagon, and lived into the space age.

He was the youngest of six children born to George and Oda Gustavo (Laney) Barto. As a youngster, he moved to Riverside, Calif., with his family, where he grew up and graduated from Riverside Polytechnic High School.

Following high school, being skilled as a handyman, he worked as a cowhand and farmhand until World War II, at which time he went into the construction industry.

In July of 1939 he met and married the love of his life, LaVersa M. McKean. After the war, they bought some acreage in Safford, where they and their first two sons, Gary and Ron, tried farming for a while. When they moved back to California, Boots sold washing machines for his brother, Carl, for several years.

Boots finally found his "niche" when he became a camp manager for the Mountain View United Methodist Church. At the Mingus Methodist Church Camp on top of Mingus Mountain, he was well known by thousands of campers as "Mr. Boots." He took his retirement in 1980.

Boots leaves behind his wife of 67 years, LaVersa Barto of Cottonwood; his three sons, Gary, who is serving in the U.S. Navy, Ron (K.J.) of California, and Ray (Mary) of Arizona; eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter.

A Memorial Service will be Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007 at 4 p.m. at the Mountain View United Methodist Church, where he was a very loyal member for many years. Because he so loved his church family, and the position in which he served, contributions may be sent to: the United Methodist Church, c/o Youth Fund for Camping, 901 S. 12th St., Cottonwood AZ 86326.

An online guestbook is available at www.westcottfuneralhome.com.




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