A Celebration of Life for Martha L. (Bell) Barr, 87, Lawrence, will be at 3 p.m. Saturday, August 25, 2012, at First Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Kent Winters-Hazelton officiating. Private inurnment will take place at Pioneer Cemetery on the University of Kansas campus.
Mrs. Barr died Thursday, July 19, 2012, at Brandon Woods at Alvamar.
She was born Nov. 23, 1924, in Birmingham, Ala., the daughter of Jesse Allen and Geneva Gregory Bell. She graduated from Ensley High School in Birmingham in 1942, and later attended the University of Alabama and the University of Kansas.
She married Billie Griffith ‘Bill’ Barr on Apr. 28, 1945, in Birmingham. He preceded her in death on Mar. 20, 2006. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Jack Bell and Buron Bell, and one sister, Mary Bell Latham.
Martha is a beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother who dedicated her life to helping others. She loved cooking and gardening. She was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church, the University Women’s Club, the KU Alumni Association, Prairie Acres Garden Club, and P.E.O. She was a Girl Scout leader for ten years in Prairie Village and Lawrence, and volunteered for many groups, including Presbyterian Manor, the Lawrence Public Library, and local schools
Survivors include a son, William G. Barr (Lise), Omaha; two daughters, Patricia Barr Clarke (Mark), Denver, and Deborah Barr (Jerzy Wirth), Wilmington, Del.; seven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.
The family suggests memorials to Visiting Nurses (Hospice), Cottonwood, Inc., or First Presbyterian Church, in care of Rumsey-Yost Funeral Home, 601 Ind., Lawrence, KS, 66044.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you,
and may God comfort you.
With deepest sympathy,
Bedru and Nsda Yimer
Bill, Lise, & Debby,
It was a pleasure to work with your mom when I nominated her to be our board liaison to Hidden Valley Girl Scout camp when she lived in Pres Manor and an honor to visit her in Brandon Woods when your sister Pat had to be in Colorado this July. She talked about you often with pride, especially when we reminisced about our year in Bordeaux and our Summer Institute in Paris at the Sorbonne. I’ll cherish her friendship and those memories.
Jackie
Our thoughts are with you ‘tho most of us cannot be…Love, Aunt Dot
sorry to hear bout martha she was a sweet lady always has a smile
and cheerful every morning when i walk in i said i mrs bar
robyn your here highlight of the day for me ill miss her
god bless robyn