Joan Kay Barringer

Joan Kay (Howie) Barringer, 83, passed away on Saturday, June 26, 2021, at Brookcrest Nursing Home in Grandville, Michigan, surrounded by her family. She had dealt with a number of serious health issues over the years, but faced each one with a never-ending positive attitude and a sharp mind and wit until the very end.

The oldest of four children, Joan was born on November 30, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois, to James and Elsie (DeShano) Howie. Her family moved to Sherwood, Michigan when she was quite young and lived on a farm there during World War II. After the war, the family moved to Battle Creek, Michigan, which she always considered her hometown. She graduated from Battle Creek Central High School with honors in 1955 and worked for Michigan National Bank in Battle Creek after graduation. She spent a year working at the Bank of Florence in Florence, South Carolina in 1957, and loved the southern food, weather, and year round flowers. She always hoped to return someday.

Joan married Fred Barringer on April 18, 1959, in Battle Creek and had four children over the next four years. The family moved to Grandville in 1968. Joan was a tireless room mother, driver, volunteer, cook, cheerleader, and fan for her kids and their friends all through their school years. She continued to do the same for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, rarely missing a game, meet, concert, recital, ceremony, or special event. She also worked for 23 years for the Grandville Public Library until her retirement in 2000, and was known and loved by so many as “the library lady.”

She said she had the best of both worlds when two children stayed in Michigan to raise their families and two moved to places she loved to visit in the south. For many years, Joan journeyed by train to Texas and Georgia to spend time with kids and grandkids there. As her physical concerns became more limiting, she took her final cross-country train excursion to Texas in 2008. She thought it would be her last trip south. Getting to spend two of her last winters in South Carolina in her 80s was an unanticipated blessing.

Joan will be dearly missed by her children Karla and Dan Blalock of Milton, Georgia, Mark and Sheila Barringer of Nacogdoches, Texas, Julie and Scott Blok of Grandville, Michigan, and Laura and Andy Mousseau of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina; 24 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; many honorary kids and grandkids; two sisters Carol Albaugh and Jackie Howie; brother and sister-in-law Jim and Mary Kay Howie; brother-in-law, Ned Hilborn; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Michael and Marilyn Butterworth; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. Joan was a longtime member of Watermark Church in Grand Haven, Michigan, and continued to attend their services virtually, even when she was no longer able to be there physically.

A celebration of Joan’s life will be held 11 a.m. Friday, July 2, 2021 at Cook Memorial Chapel, 4235 Prairie St. SW in Grandville with Pastor Steve Deur officiating. Visitation will be held for an hour prior to the service and also on Thursday, July 1, from 6-9 p.m. at Cook Memorial Chapel. Interment will take place at Grandville Cemetery. The family is grateful to the staff of Brookcrest for their expert and loving care of Joan during the last year. In honor of Joan, donations may be made to the Kent District Library - Grandville Branch. The family welcomes memories and messages in their guestbook online at www.cookcaresgrandville.com.

Joan was never very interested in accumulating things, but she filled every place she lived with pictures of her family, letters, cards, and mementos of the joy they brought to her life. The happiness and faith she demonstrated daily will carry on as a legacy for all who loved her.