Barbara was an only child but was never without playmates coming from large families on both her parents sides. She was raised by her grandparents, Edward Newton Bailey & Mada Pearl (Asbury) Bailey, her first 5 years in rural Randolph County, on a farm in the country while her mom & dad headed to the big city (Moberly) to work at the Brown Shoe Factory. Her parents drove back and forth to the farm every weekend to spend time with their little girl. Family came from far & near every weekend and if you happened to drive by and see a crowd of people spilled out of the house into the yards, you would think someone was having a big family reunion, but it was just Barbara’s family having their usual weekend get together.
The family moved to North Kansas City, where Barbara attended local schools. Barbara met & fell madly in love with Don L. Taylor and they eloped to Bentonville, Arkansas where they married June 30, 1952.
May 5, 1954, they welcomed their first and only child, Kenneth Ray Taylor. Kenny was the apple of his parents' and grandparents' eyes.
Barbara, along with her parents, Kenneth & Evelyn (Wilhite), raised her son and many years later, Cupid once again shot that arrow of love directly at her. She married Lloyd Barnes on October 20, 1972 in Barry Christian Church. Like that old song “Side by Side”, wherever you saw one, you saw the other.
Barbara had some health issues in later life and passed away at NorthCare Hospice on January 9, 2019, from complications of pneumonia and lung cancer.
She is survived by her husband, Lloyd Barnes, and son, Kenny Taylor. She is also survived by two step-daughters, Elizabeth (James) Schrader and Laura (Dion) Waldon. Barbara was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, niece, cousin, and friend to many.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, January 13, 2019 from 9:00-10:00am at White Chapel Funeral Home. Barbara’s life will be celebrated following at 10am. Interment at White Chapel Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers the family suggests contributions to the Kansas City Humane Society.
