Mary Alice Barr

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.