Jessie Marie Barber, 93, of Springfield, Missouri went to be with her Lord on Saturday, September 14, 2019, after several months of declining health.

Marie grew up in St. Louis, the only child of Joseph and Jessie (Olney) Petzold, born March 10, 1926. Following graduation from high school during WWII, she went to work for the Frisco Railroad as a file clerk, where she met her future husband, Rex R. Barber. It was several years later, however, when the marriage took place. Their place of residence changed when the Frisco Railroad closed their offices in St. Louis, and moved them to Springfield, Mo. The Barber family was the first of the Frisco employees to relocate.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, as well as, her sons: Larry Guthrie, Cliff Barber, and Brent Barber. She is survived by her daughters, Carol (Paul)Cameron and Nancy (David) Daniels, plus 12 grandsons, 10 great grandchildren, and one great great granddaughter.

Through the years, Marie found places to serve others. During WWII, she volunteered her mother to teach her home economics class to knit socks for the American soldiers. It is reported that the socks she knitted were argyle patterned. Once while serving at a fund raising bazaar, she came home without her coat, because it had been sold when she wasn't looking. She served many years at Vacation Bible School for South Haven Baptist Church. For a short time, she and Rex served in the kitchen at The Kitchen and she delivered for Meals on Wheels.   For years, she collected clothes to send to Indian reservations and Newborns in Need. Before her health began to fail, she knitted wool stocking caps for American soldiers serving in Afghanistan. From there, she branched out to non-military colors, and many children have received stocking caps from that collection.

Funeral services will be on Thursday, September 19, 2019, at Klingner-Cope Funeral Home at Rivermonte. Visitation will be 1:30-2:00pm, with the funeral at 2:00pm followed by interment.