After graduating from high school, she joined the Marines. This allowed her to travel far beyond the Midwest to the other side of the world in Japan, where she was stationed for over a year, and visit South Korea. Another station point was Camp Pendleton, which allowed her to fall in love with the West Coast and settle there for 20 years of her life.
She welcomed a daughter in 1986, who was her faithful companion many miles from her roots in the Midwest. Together, they went on many adventures in and out of the state where they lived. Experiences were how Barbara showed her love: going to local festivals, taking road trips, or even coming home to visit her family. Her other great love was the written word. She would devour books, some within hours of opening the cover. This allowed for more adventures and far-off places to visit.
She sampled many career paths, including 911 operator and vet technician, and eventually landed a job as a pharmacy technician. Barbara became a manager and worked for a mail-order pharmacy for over 25 years. This same career is what brought her back to the Midwest and closer to the family she loved.
After settling in Overland Park, she bought her first house and volunteered for a pet rescue to help foster cats. Barbara and Anna nursed many cats and helped numerous others find homes. Sometimes, certain cats ended up finding a “Forever Home” with Barbara! She loved animals, and her zoo membership was always up to date.
Barbara is survived by her beloved daughter, Anna; her siblings Peggy Stewart of Overland Park and Larry Holland of St. Charles, Missouri; his wife, Ginger; four nephews, and a host of cousins out of state.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Barbara’s name to the Kansas City Zoo or the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).
