Mary Alice Barr
Share
Funeral services for Mary Alice Barr, 94, Lawrence, KS, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, December 11, 2021, at First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont Street, Lawrence, KS 66044, with a visitation starting at 9:00 a.m., also at the church. Masks are strongly recommended by the Church. Burial will be held at McPherson Cemetery in McPherson, KS at 10:00 a.m., Monday, December 13, 2021. Mary Alice passed away on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital in Lawrence, KS, surrounded by family. Please feel free to view Mary’s Celebration of Life via livestream @ https://youtu.be/1-xHH9c4bi4
Mary Alice was born on November 10, 1927, in McPherson, KS, the daughter of Ernest “Pete” and Florence (Wright) Wolf.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Robert “Bob” Barr in 2000, and her sister Betty Wolf Officer.
Survivors include her children, Peter (Kathy) Barr, Marge (Kent) Shelley, grandchildren, Sebastian (Danielle O’Banion) Barr, Hilary Barr, Mandi Shelley, Madison Shelley, and her niece Dawn (Mike) Officer Martin.
Mary Alice will be remembered for her quick humor and laugh, and her general love of life. Her grandchildren often shared laughter with her and commented on her funny, sassy remarks.
Mary Alice and her husband Bob (Bobby for those in McPherson) loved to dance. She and Bob were members of a decades long bridge club whose members were like family to her. She was also fortunate to have many good neighbors and friends. Mary Alice was involved in Scouting, both Girl Scouts and Cub Scouts, and was a proud and active member of the Tri-Delta sorority and alumni, the Panhellenic Council, and Mortar Board for many years. She was known for her delicious apple pies, most often with cryptic symbols or messages carved into the top crust that the family would offer their guesses as to the meaning.
Mary Alice was born and raised in McPherson, Kansas, where her parents had Wolf Plumbing and Heating. She graduated from Kansas State University with a degree in journalism, and despite having lived in Lawrence for over 60 years, was a tried-and-true K-State Wildcat. She was independent and intelligent, regularly reading more than one paper each day, especially Sunday editions. She stressed the importance of independent thinking, education, and laughter to her children. As was common of her generation, after working in journalism, she stayed home and raised a family. However, after her children left for college, Mary Alice began her a career at Capitol Federal Savings, working at the West Lawrence branch from 1980 until 2007, retiring just before her 80th birthday. She loved the work, her co-workers, and her customers, and is remembered fondly by many. In her retirement she loved to travel with her friends in the United Methodist Roadrunners Club.
Christmas was a special time for Mary Alice. You could truly say that Mary Alice kept Christmas in her heart all the year, during which year she would often purchase and hide away gifts that might never be found when Christmas came. She imparted to her children and her grandchildren strong family Christmas traditions, which will be passed down to future generations in the form of her gorgeous and cavernous Christmas stockings, which she knitted for every member of the family, each with separate designs and personalized with the owner’s name.
Mary Alice’s family especially thanks the kind and loving staff at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor for their dedication to the residents, including Mary Alice.
Memorial contributions may be made in Mary Alice’s name to the Music Department of the First United Methodist Church, or to the Resident Council Fund at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor which benefits the staff and may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.
I had the good fortune and feel blessed to have worked with Mary Alice from 1980 to 1986 at Capitol Federal. She was everyone’s favorite, the clients and her co-workers. She is one of only a handful of people I have experienced in my 70 years that never ever had an angry moment or a cross word for anyone or any situation.
Mary Alice Barr was absolutely a saint who walked among us!
May God’s love be with her family.
Sorry for your loss, sending our prayers and sympathy.
Mary Alice sounds like the kind of neighbor, friend, co-worker, family member that everyone needs in their life. So sorry for your loss. My prayers and sympathy are with you.
Dear Barr Family: I was saddened to learn of your recent loss of Mary Alice. I truly enjoyed the opportunity to visit with Mary Alice from time to time over the years and recognized a true goodness within her during those visits. Please know all of you are in my thoughts and prayers during this challenging time. Peace and sympathy, Paul Seymour
Dear Barr family,
I feel fortunate to have known Mary Alice for so many years and to have shared her quick wit, her love of her family and the many ways she gave back to the Lawrence community. I share with you in a small way the feeling of her loss, and know that the joy she has brought to us in remembrances will help to heal the sorrow of life without her around. Sincerely, Susan Gillahan Hall
I loved dear Mary Alice. Our family was customers and dear friends from Capitol Federal. She will be sorely missed.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Mary Alice was always so much fun to work with. She loved her job at Cap Fed. She will truly be missed by many.
Prayers and thoughts are with you all,
Hillary (Harris) Johnson
I was honored to meet Mary Alice and her family when I moved her into Presbyterian Manor. It’s hard to not have favorites there, and Mary Alice was definitely one of my favorites. When I’d see her coming down the hall, I’d tell her here comes trouble and she would just laugh! She was always making us laugh too. I also loved getting to know her family. I missed her when I left Presbyterian Manor. My condolences to her entire family.
I too had the fortune to work alongside Mary Alice at Cap Fed and echo Dan Heptig’s words. MAB’Y never met an angry customer or disgruntled fellow employee as when you ended your conversation, your issues were resolved. She lifted me up daily and her spirit stayed with me to this day. A once in a lifetime personality I was blessed to meet at an early age. Indeed a true angel on Earth. God bless.
Although I worked at a different Cap Fed branch than Mary Alice, everyone loved her humor and kindness. One of my favorite memories is of a holiday party where Mary Alice played Vanna White in a Wheel of Fortune contest. I’ll always think of her theatrically tossing that long feather boa around her neck as she flipped the clues over! She made any activity fun! Wishing her family nothing but happy memories.
I had the good fortune to work with Mary Alice in Girl Scouts. She will, indeed, be missed by many!
My parents were part of the bridge club and she was a dear friend of my mother. I have many fond memories of Mary Alice. Love and condolences to the family.
Dear Barr Family,
I have many fond memories of Bob and Mother Barr (as my father-in-law Jerry Rogers called her) visiting at Jane and Jerry’s house. For many years we watched their wonderful friendship and we know that they are together again laughing, dining, playing bridge and smiling down on all of us as we continue on our journey through life. Sending love and sympathy from our family to yours. Mary Alice will be missed by many – she was truly a wonderful woman.
Michele, Caelan and Sophia Vignola-Rogers
So very sorry to hear of Mrs. Barr’s passing. Condolences to the family.
What a wonderful legacy she has left her children and her children’s children! My deepest sympathies to those who loved her dearly. May God hold you all gently in the palm of His hands.
My sincerest condolences. She must have been one wonderful lady. I was inspired reading all about her.
MargE, what a beautiful life full of memories and strong traditions that your mother is leaving behind. Thinking of you and your family. My condolences.
For many years I knew Mary Alice both through sitting together at church and seeing her at Capitol Federal. She was a delightful person, greeting all with a smile, despite having difficultly getting around herself. Her friends already miss her, and the cheer she brought into the world. We send deep sympathies to her family, and gratitude for the time we had with her.
I will always remember the kindness of Mary Alice Barr from my associations with her over many years of business dealings with Capitol Federal. She was ever pleasant, ever professional.
The light of our world is dimmed in her passing.
My condolences to all who mourn her loss.
I had the pleasure to work with Mary Alice at Cap Fed. She was a true friend a wonderful co worker. Bob and Mary Alice will reunite in heaven and the angels will sing!
Prayers for the entire family during this difficult time.
Growing up as a fairly regular visitor to the Barr household, I always looked forward to talking with Bob & Mary Alice. Mary Alice’s good humor and her laugh was what I remember most – that laugh was infectious! Although she always seemed to have a million things going on, she also always made me feel that I mattered and that she was listening.
And that same ability carried forward to her work at CapFed, where she helped countless customers over the years – me included.
She was a gem! Pete, MargE and the Barr Family – Linda and I will keep you in our thoughts as we fondly remember Mary Alice.
MargE, Kent & Ohana
I was saddened to hear of your recent loss. I remember Mary Alice fondly with her kindness and always smiling face. It was always a fun time to be in her presence. My condolences to the ohana and especially the keikis.
MargE… I’m so sorry for your loss. No matter what age, there is nothing like a mother’s love. May many wonderful and precious memories be ever present and just a heart beat away. My deep condolences and prayers. Bruce
Pete and family, Mary Alice was always someone I enjoyed seeing when I stopped in at Cap Fed. Such a friendly and happy person and very good at taking care of her customers. I recall that on one particular visit, she wasn’t especially fond of some of the recent computer system changes but she was determined to get the transaction done no matter how challenging it was. Thinking of you and your family and celebrating a lovely lady!
To your Mom Mary Alice and the entire Barr family, we share our heartfelt condolences on her passing. A mother is the center of our well-being and provides connections to all that we love and cherish. This is a hard loss for all. We hope the happy times will always be foremost in your minds. She lives on in each of you. May God give comfort to all at this difficult time.