Just shy of 91, Barbara deeply loved her husband, Dick Henley, who passed May 28th, one day after they celebrated their 70th Wedding Anniversary. Barbara was devoted to her family, singing, church, and gardening.
Barbara was born in Springfield Missouri, the seventh of nine children. She remained close to her siblings throughout her life, celebrating holidays and holding reunions, including one during the first Moon Walk. Her older sisters, Fannie Champieux Hasenyager and Faye, were like second mothers to her. The youngest three, including Bob Ebling of Springfield, MO and Sue Russell of Overland Park, KS had a particularly strong bond. Sue was her Maid of Honor at her St Louis wedding.
Moving frequently as a child taught Barbara to make new friends wherever she went. She graduated from Cambridge OH one of the top students in the state, and rather than accept a state scholarship, opted to go to Southwest Missouri State as a music major and singing lead for the Bear Bops jazz ensemble. There she met Dick. They fell in love at first sight and married in 1951 in St Louis with her beloved mother Lena Howell and sister Sue at her side.
Within a year, Barbara and Dick had Rick, and then Bill, and Cindy, each two years apart, and Becki seven years later. They built their family home in Bridlespur where they lived for fifty two years. Her beautiful gardens grew from tiny mail order sticks to 90-foot-high trees. An active volunteer leader, she served as PTA President, Den Mother, Girl Scout Leader, and multiple other roles before returning to UMKC to complete her teaching degree in 1968, and later a master degree, both in education.
After completing her BA at University of Missouri – Kansas City, Barbara taught kindergarten at Santa Fe Elementary School in Hickman Mills for twenty-five years in part because she wanted to be the children’s first teacher. Sometimes she would teach a child and later teach their children, and often heard from former students about how important she was to them, the “Best Kindergarten Teacher Ever” for many.
As an early member of Red Bridge Christian Church in 1960, Barbara continued her church activities for nearly six decades. She sang many solos for the church choir, and served as Youth Minister, Chairman of the Board, Sunday School Teacher, Elder, and Deacon. She was a proud member of the Red Bridge Lioness Club and long after they closed their chapter, she enjoyed monthly lunch outings with her dear friends.
Barbara was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Richard J. Henley, her dear mother, Lena Ebling Howell, and father, Benton Wilbur Ebling, son Richard J. Henley Jr, sons-in-law Gene Wuellner and Mark Ladd, granddaughter Alexandra Ladd, and eight siblings and their spouses. Surviving family are children William J. Henley and wife Linda of San Leandro, CA, Cindy Frewen Wuellner, Leawood, KS, Rebecca Henley-Booker, grandchildren Georgia Henley of Arlington, MA, Victoria Dawson and husband Chad, and great-grandchildren Silas, Vada, and Kadence of Lyons, Indiana, Tyler & Christian Ladd of Kansas City, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A Visitation for Barbara will be held Thursday, October 14, 2021 from 10:00am to 11:00am followed by a Funeral Service at 11:00am at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home, 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Barbara's name to Comfort Care Homes, 10205 Howe Dr., Leawood, KS 66206.
