Miriam Barber

Miriam Barber, 98, of Connersville, died Sunday afternoon, March 24, 2019, at Hickory Creek of Connersville where she had resided. Miriam was born in Sardinia, Ohio, July 31, 1920 the oldest of eleven children of James and Grace McQuitty Wiley and graduated from high school in 1938. For 39 years, she was employed at Stant Manufacturing. Miriam retired in 1982 with the distinction of Stant’s first female group leader and first female supervisor. In her leisure time, Miriam enjoyed bowling, playing badminton, playing baseball and working in her garden. She developed an interest in painting with oils at the age of 80 while watching Bob Ross paint on TV. Miriam was encouraged to enter her first painting in the 2006 Fayette County Free Fair where she was awarded a blue ribbon. More paintings were to follow that displayed her natural ability as an artist. Miriam is survived by her daughter: Sheila Klein of Connersville; her grandson: Jamie Houze and his girlfriend, Brandy of Connersville; her great-grandchildren: Ciara and Madison Houze; her brothers: William Willey and Owen Willey, both of Hillsboro, Ohio; her sisters: Wanda Shaw and Opal Cramer, both of Hillsboro, OH; Carol Durham of Kansas City, Kansas; nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Miriam is preceded into death by her husband: Raymond C. Barber who died October 19, 1994; her grandson: Jeff Houze; her siblings: Betty Bowe, Jenny Couch, Frances Lucas, Ruth Butler and Merle Willey. Funeral services will be conducted at 12 noon Saturday, March 30, 2019, at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville. Interment will follow in section K at Dale Cemetery. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 10 a.m. until the time of service where memorial contributions may be made to Loveland Wesleyan Chapel, 6821 Oakland Rd, Loveland, OH 45140. For additional information and features, go to www.ShowalterBlackwellLong.com.