Nancy Louise Barber

Nancy was born on March 6, 1939, in Springfield, to Joseph A. and Catherine Booth. She married Robert B. Barber Sr. on June 29, 1963.

Nancy was a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy and attended Colorado College and University of Illinois – Champaign. She worked many years in the insurance and finance fields, retiring from Davis Financial Group. Nancy also served as a volunteer for the King’s Daughters, Alzheimer’s Association, and the Springfield Art Association. She was a loving mother and devoted grandmother. Nancy was a self-taught gourmet cook. She and Bob delighted many friends and family over the years with their elegant dinner parties. Her talent for entertaining with grace and class was unparalleled except perhaps by Martha Stewart. Nancy passed along this passion for entertaining and love of good food to her children and grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bob; and niece, Susie Barber Preece.

She is survived by her dearest sister, Judy (husband, John “Jack”) Barber; her two children, Robert B. (wife, Marnie) Barber, Jr. of Springfield, IL and Ann (husband, Mark) Colgrove of Ashland, MO; 2 grandchildren, Andrew Barber of Kansas City, KS and Erin Barber of Denver, CO; niece and nephews, Debbie (Diane VanderKooy) Barber of Chatham, Bill (wife, Laurie) Barber of Mission Viejo, CA, and Tom (wife, Kim) Barber of Glenarm.

Visitation: Family will receive friends from 4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, 2022, at Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield.

Funeral Mass: 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 6, 2022, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 1725 S. Walnut St., Springfield with Rev. Jeff Grant, celebrant. Burial will follow at Fancy Creek Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Springfield Art Association, 700 North 4th Street, Springfield, IL 62702.