Barbara Crayton DuBois age 87, of Polo, Illinois, died peacefully in her sleep on May 31, 2025, at OSF St. Anthony’s Medical Center in Rockford, IL.
Barbara was born February 22, 1938, in Clifton, Illinois, to Edward and Edith Crayton. She and her future husband graduated from East Aurora High School in 1956. She married the love of her life, Jule J. DuBois, February 8, 1958, and spent 67 wonderfully loving years together. She graduated from Northern Illinois University in 1983. Barb worked as a child advocate in DeKalb County. As children were her life, she opened a licensed home daycare and spent many years caring for her grandchildren and others.
Barb was the amazing catalyst for an adoption legacy which spread through and beyond her family and has carried on for generations. Barb and Jule lovingly cared for 16+ children through birth, adoption and foster care over the years. There was nothing she enjoyed more than her family and planning big family celebrations. She shopped, baked, cooked and decorated for weeks to make each gathering an occasion to remember. The “cousin parties” were her special creation, never to be forgotten by her grandchildren.
Barb had a passion for travel and planned every trip meticulously. Barbara visited all 50 states, Canada, Europe, Central, and South America. She loved her trips with family, and especially cherished her time spent traveling with her husband Jule, her sister Pat, and brother-in-law Darold.
She was proceded in death by her parents, Edward M Crayton and Edith (Anderson) Crayton, brother Edward L Crayton, sons Anthony Christopher DuBois and Patrick F. DuBois, son-in-law Ronald Forster, brothers-in-law Darold Cutsinger and Dean Downing, grandchildren, Madalyn Ayers, Angel DuBois, and Valerie Forster.
She is survived by her loving husband, Jule J. DuBois, Polo Illinois. Surviving children include, daughters Nona Forster, West Chicago IL, Antoinette (Maurice Gross) Ayers Powhatan, VA, Shelley (Doug) Hoag, Oro Valley AZ, and Julie Mihelic, Alabaster AL; sons Jule J. DuBois Jr., Dixon IL, Andrew (Ann) DuBois, Polo, IL, Hart (Kristin) DuBois, Polo IL, and Bruce DuBois, Clarksville TN; daughter-in-law Kim DuBois, Somonauk, IL.
She is also survived by her sisters, Patsy Cutsinger, Seal Beach, CA, Melody Crayton DeKalb IL, and Deborah Downing, Waterman IL; brothers, Ron (Lyn) Crayton, Laramie, WY, and Micheal Crayton, Maple Park, IL.
She is survived by and will be greatly missed by many adoring grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other family.
Visitation will be Monday June 9, 2025 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Polo Family Funeral Home, 110 E. Dixon St., Polo. Graveside services will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at Fairmount Cemetery in Polo with Rev. Jeff Davidson officiating.
May she rest in peace, knowing that in our minds and hearts, she will always be the beloved matriarch of the loving family she created.
Condolences may be sent to pffh.condolences@gmail.com.
