Barbara Lee Stotts, 90, of Burlington, formerly of West Point, died Monday, April 7, 2025, at River Hills Village in Keokuk. She was born May 12, 1934, in Plainville, Illinois, to Daniel Monroe Gallaher and Leta F. Hull Gallaher Sandifer. On June 13, 1953, she married David Morton Nickell in Plainville. They later divorced. In 1983 she married Kenneth G. Stotts and he preceded her in death. She also was preceded in death by her longtime companion, Carl Foster.
Barb had a beekeeping business for a time, worked at the Fort Madison School District, Greenwald’s Grocery in Fort Madison, Walmart in Mount Pleasant, and in her younger years she worked at the Quincy, Illinois, Herald-Whig.
She was a homemaker and an excellent cook and housekeeper. She was the valedictorian of her high school class. She had many talents and enjoyed sewing, making her beautiful quilts, and visiting. She was of the Christian faith.
Survivors include two sons: David (Peggy) Nickell of Quincy, and Jerrald (Julie) Nickell: of Burlington; five grandchildren: Nate (Carrie) Nickell of Quincy, Stephanie (Kim) Dobbs of Quincy, Cassandra (Kevin) Welshons of Minneapolis, Jerrald “Jake” Nickell of Iowa City, and Jesse Nickell of Cedar Falls; one brother: Loyal (Bev) Gallaher of Longmont, Colorado, and Marilyn Cobb of Fallbrook, California; one sister-in-law: Bobbi Gallaher of Nauvoo, and a brother-in-law: Larry Solter of La Grange, Missouri. Her great-grandchildren, Gwyneth Nickell, Boyd and Lena Dobbs and Estelle Welshons, also will miss her.
Besides her husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter: Judy Nickell Martin, one brother: Kendall Gallaher, and one sister: Joyce Solter.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Greenglade Cemetery with Pastor Chad Welch officiating.
A memorial has been established in her memory.
Schmitz Funeral Home of Farmington is assisting the family with arrangements.