Barbara Jan McDonald

Barbara Jan (Peters) McDonald, age 75, of Columbia, MO, passed away on February 1, 2022. Barbara was born in St. Louis, MO, to Michael and Margery Peters. She graduated from Cleveland HS, St. Louis and the University of Missouri, Columbia. She worked as a medical researcher, substitute teacher, KCOU DJ, Executive Director of a home builders’ association, a clipping bureau reader, and UMC athletes’ tutor.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband Terry McDonald, Columbia, MO; son Shawn McDonald, Seattle, WA; daughter Shannon Smith, San Antonio, TX (Aaron), grand children Colin, Atticus, and Madison; sister Laurie Goodfellow (Lafe); brother-in-law Gary McDonald (Carol), and a loving extended family.

Barbara was the type of loving wife that would write frequent letters to her husband while the military kept him away.

Barbara was a caring mother to her children, augmenting their schooling with additional studies…and she taught her children about important social issues. She was a generous woman that did not hold her opinions lightly. She was a passionate activist that abhorred the abuse of power over others, whether that be personal, corporate, governments or other organizations. She supported causes that protected people, animals, and the environment.

Barbara had a keen mind, enjoying language, puzzles, and games. She was extremely well read, especially when it came to science and science fiction. She was informed and conversant on a plethora of topics. Before losing her eyesight, she was an avid reader and contributor to “News of the Weird.” She was a member of a local group, Logophiles, whose members gathered to share their love of words.

Barbara loved live music and live theater. She attended many music concerts over the years. She was also a volunteer DJ on KCOU. She loved Broadway plays, off-Broadway plays, and shows that were nowhere close to Broadway.

Despite her love for language, Barbara would humorously recite surprisingly misheard sentences or phrases. It was joked that hearing these “Barbarisms” was an affliction that eventually morphed into a full-on extended joke that grew to be Barbaristic Atrophic Aphasia. Instead of asking “what?”, she would hear “Fountain of Living Water” and query “Phantom of the Living Waffle?” or “hear Serpents’ teeth” and question “A nasty circus tease?”. She loved a good joke, and she owns a stack of bumper stickers to prove it.

Barbara was eclectic, passionate, humorous, outspoken, and caring. She will be missed.

When the weather is more accommodating, a celebration of her life, with Covid protocols (hopefully outdoors), will be scheduled.