Barbara Joan Bray (Birt)

Barbara Bray died peacefully Friday, January 15, 2016, at John Knox Village Care Center; Lee’s Summit, MO. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, January 20, 2016, at Fellowship Greenwood, 1601 W. Main Street, Greenwood, MO. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, January 19th, at Speaks Suburban Chapel, 18020 E. 39th St, Independence, MO. and at 9 am prior to the service Wednesday at the church. Burial will follow service at Knob Noster Cemetery, Knob Noster, MO. The family suggests memorial gifts to the MO WMU/Gilpin Fund to support Woman’s Missionary Union and other mission efforts. Barbara was born May 17, 1931 in Hutchison, KS, to Kenneth and Harriette Birt. She had one brother. She graduated from Blue Mountain College in 1952 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She was an accomplished singer, pianist, choir director, teacher, writer and speaker. Barbara married Tom Bray June 2, 1953 and together they began a 50-year partnership of love and ministry serving in 13 full-time and interim pastorates in Missouri, Kentucky and Arkansas. From 1981-1986, she served as Missouri WMU President and lived a lifetime fulfilling her passion for missions by leading conferences, writing for WMU magazines and two books for WMU. She was a member of Fellowship Greenwood. Apart from being a model pastor’s wife, she loved her family and was the epitome of hospitality. Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Tom and both of her parents. Barbara is survived by her children, Martha and Dennis Green, Blue Springs, MO, Sarah and Larry Jacobs, Nixa, MO, Becky and BJ Moyer, Lee’s Summit, MO, Clark Bray, Bowling Green, KY, and Dave Hitchcock, Independence, MO; her grandchildren Amy and David Jacoby, Adam and Kristi Hitchcock, Nathan and Kala Jacobs, Rachel and Matt Canady, Julia Moyer, Kathryn Moyer, Jason and Laura Bray, Jeremy and Amber Bray, Stephen and Sophy Bray; thirteen great-grandchildren, Addie, Violet and Cooper Jacoby, Trey Dayaw, Ava and Noah Hitchcock, Peyton Lyons, Brinley Jacobs, Susan, Sarah and Joseph Bray, Mallory Bray, and Saylah Bray; her brother Ken and Pat Birt and many “adopted” children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Her caring spirit will be missed by all who loved and admired her. She left her earthly body confident in the words of 2 Timothy 4:7-8, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for His appearing.” Her family rests in the assurance that the Lord met Barbara at the entrance of her eternal rest saying, “Well done thy good and faithful servant.”