Barb was born in Morganton North Carolina on July 9,1951. She moved frequently in her childhood, first to New Haven MI where she said yes to Jesus on an Easter Sunday at 8 years old. She lived in Loogootee, IN and Louisville KY where she graduated from duPont Manual High School in 1969.
Barb experienced an unplanned pregnancy at 19 years old and lived with an incredible Godly woman that helped her through the difficult decision of giving up a baby girl named Julia for adoption to a Christian couple. This choice followed her & inspired her to love and care for unwed mothers throughout her life.
Through her 20’s Barb loved working at Bob Hook Cheverlot & starting her Mary Kay career in Louisville. She adored having skin care classes, later in life she used Mary Kay as a way to share the Gospel of Jesus transforming women from the inside out.
She married Chuck Ranney in 1979 moved to Kansas City and spent her 30’s enjoying motherhood with her daughters Michelle & Melissa. She grew in her faith with Jesus attending Christian Women’s Club and EBC in Overland Park KS. Barb loved being apart of her ladies Sunday school class, listening to praise & worship music, attending conferences, and raising her daughters to become prayer warriors and faithful followers.
Barb went through a difficult divorce at 40 but soon met the love of her life Duane, the Christian man that she had always prayed for. The next 20 years were filled with many joys. They raised their daughters to trust in and live like Jesus. They served faithfully as leads of the First Impression’s team at EBC, as well as working together to help Barb in her careers as a Mary Kay Director and her dream job of being a Realtor. As a Realtor Barb found joy in helping people find homes and praying over their lives & new adventures. Barb & Duane loved traveling to see family, friends, and new places on Disney Cruises, beaches and mountains, and their favorite trip to Hawaii celebrating their 30th anniversary.
Barb’s 60’s brought about new family members, her son in law Jeremy & in a few years her sweet grandchildren James & Reese. Jeremy brought the family into the Royals fandom and they brought him to the world of Disney. So many amazing trips, games, & memories were made and Barb got her favorite job, being a Grandma.
From there to the end Barb loved her family & would do anything to keep them near. She prayed relentlessly for her family & friends all of her life. Some of her last words were calling out to go see the Lord. Her greatest accomplishment was knowing Jesus & making Him known.
Barb was preceded in death by her parents, Bobby McCrary & Romilda Brittain, and her sister Laura. She is survived by husband Duane, children, Julia (Ryan) Petrie, Michelle Ranney & Melissa (Jeremy) Davis, grandchildren James & Reese, brother Bruce (Trudy)
McCrary, in laws Terry (Patty) Purtell & Denise (Jerrold) Bradley, as well as aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
