Barbara Lynn Smith Devetski

Barbara was born in Steubenville, OH on November 13, 1948 to Howard Smith and Doris Jensen Smith. In 1960 the family relocated to Long Beach/Michigan City, IN and Barb graduated from Michigan City Elston Senior High in 1967, third in her class of close to 800 students. A highlight of high school was serving as the school's mascot on the cheerleading squad the year Elston won the Indiana state high school basketball championship. Barb went on to graduate from Indiana University Bloomington in 3 ½ years and began work towards a master's degree at Valparaiso University.

On February 16th, 1974 Barb married Greg J. Devetski at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church in Michigan City, IN. During the first three years of marriage, Barb and Greg resided in Houston, TX, London, England, Antwerp Belgium, and Tinley Park, IL, spending their first anniversary together in Paris, France. In Antwerp, they celebrated the arrival of their first daughter, Cara Ann. Some of Barb's fondest memories while living in Europe included sitting on a London street corner on a foggy, misty night eating fish and chips. Another was hiking in the Ardennes on a brisk fall afternoon with friends in Belgium. When Barb and Greg decided to return to the US, they traveled back via one of Greg's company's chartered vessels. They spent 10 days on the high seas of the North Atlantic, arriving in Montreal the evening before the opening ceremonies of the 1976 summer Olympics and traveling on through the St. Lawrence Seaway to arrive in Toledo, OH, to be greeted by Cara's anxious grandparents.

In 1978, they moved the family to Houston, TX, which become Barb's beloved hometown thereafter. While in Houston, Barb and Greg welcomed daughters Erin Marie and Megan Lynn. Barb worked briefly as the manager of a furniture store, but found her true calling when she began working for nonprofit organization The Women's Fund. Barb would become Executive Director there, and later serve as Development Director of The Parish School. She poured her heart and soul into these organizations, raising countless dollars to support the causes and mentoring many young nonprofit professionals along the way. She was an active community volunteer, serving for years as a Girl Scout leader, Sunday School teacher, and swim team/drill team booster. In 2014, Barb and Greg retired to the beautiful Texas Hill Country in Austin to be closer to their children and grandchildren. Barb's retirement was cut short by her illness, but all who know her know that she lived life to the fullest – making the world a better place with her ceaseless love and dedication to serving others.

Along with her parents, Barb was preceded in death by her brother George and father-in-law Marvin Devetski. She is survived by: husband, Greg; daughters Cara (Aaron) Fox, Erin (Matthew) Campbell, and Megan all of Austin, TX; beloved grandchildren, Cade, Drew and Josh Fox and Gracelynn Ann Campbell; sister Virginia Nichols and special niece Jennifer (James) Buchanan both of Michigan City, IN; brother Howard (Corinne) Smith, Gila, NM; mother-in-law Dolores Miller, LaPort, IN; sisters-in-law Sharon (Chuck) Wilhelm, Madison, WI; Debi (Leonard) Miller, Indianapolis, IN; and Judy (John) Gardner, Michigan City, IN; in addition to numerous nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. Barb was a mother and grandmother to all, and she leaves behind numerous dear family friends, work friends and adopted friends of her girls - "kids" that may not have been related by blood, but that she loved with her whole heart.

A memorial service will be held at Westlake Hills United Methodist Church, 1460 Redbud Trail, Austin, TX on April 18th at 11 am, with a reception to follow. Cremation has taken place through Weed-Corley Fish Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, Barb requested donations be made to the charity of one's choice or to St. Stanislaus Church Restoration Fund, 109 Ann St., Michigan City, IN 46360, the historic family church where she and Greg married, baptized their children, and celebrated so many masses and milestones with family.