Barbara Fay Lewis McKerley passed away Monday morning, May 9, 2022, after a lengthy illness.
Barbara was born on April 5, 1938, on a farm in Cold Springs, Alabama.
She was the eldest of five children born to Daniel Phanender Lewis (1912-1978)) and Thelma Gunter Lewis (1912-1964). With brothers George (1939-2019) and Billy and sisters Patricia and Phyllis, she grew up on a quiet and beautiful tract of Cullman County farmland where the family raised cotton and other crops. Barbara loved to reminisce about her idyllic childhood growing up in the quiet and beautiful North Alabama countryside.
Barbara moved to Birmingham soon after graduating from Cold Springs High School in 1956. She worked as a model and participated in several beauty pageant competitions while employed as a receptionist and telephone operator. She met William Russell McKerley (1931-2004) in 1958 and a whirlwind courtship ensued.
The couple married in 1959 and had three children, Michael, Melissa and Lance.
Barbara took great satisfaction in her role as a mother and homemaker. She was involved in all of her children's activities, and "Babs," as she was affectionately known, was a popular chaperon on countless field trips, either with school or church.
She kept her family well fed and entertained, creating elaborate spreads, particularly on holidays. Her biscuits were famous. The McKerley family took yearly summer vacations, traveling throughout the USA and many other destinations. She and Russell continued to travel after becoming empty-nesters, and by the time she was in her fifties Barbara could boast to have visited all 50 states.
Barbara enjoyed gardening, painting, antiquing, reading, crossword puzzles and visiting the casino. She also dabbled in business, operating Cobb Lane Fruit Basket, an enterprise that utilized all her creative talents.
She adored her grandchildren and played with them as if she was a kid herself. She was extremely proud of her siblings, nieces and nephews, visiting and talking about them often.
Barbara had an amazingly strong constitution, successfully beating colon cancer in 2003 and overcoming COPD. She lost her beloved Russ in 2004 after 45 years of marriage and missed him every day. In her later years she struggled with the heartbreaking condition, dementia.
Barbara is survived by her three children, four grandchildren, two step-children and six step-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her two sisters.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and several beloved family members including two brothers; George William Lewis (1939-2019) and Randy E. Lewis (1956-1975).
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, the 18th of May 2022 at Ridout's Valley Chapel in Homewood beginning at three o'clock in the afternoon, visitation will be one hour prior to the service. A private burial was held at Elmwood Cemetery.
Barbara was born on April 5, 1938, on a farm in Cold Springs, Alabama.
She was the eldest of five children born to Daniel Phanender Lewis (1912-1978)) and Thelma Gunter Lewis (1912-1964). With brothers George (1939-2019) and Billy and sisters Patricia and Phyllis, she grew up on a quiet and beautiful tract of Cullman County farmland where the family raised cotton and other crops. Barbara loved to reminisce about her idyllic childhood growing up in the quiet and beautiful North Alabama countryside.
Barbara moved to Birmingham soon after graduating from Cold Springs High School in 1956. She worked as a model and participated in several beauty pageant competitions while employed as a receptionist and telephone operator. She met William Russell McKerley (1931-2004) in 1958 and a whirlwind courtship ensued.
The couple married in 1959 and had three children, Michael, Melissa and Lance.
Barbara took great satisfaction in her role as a mother and homemaker. She was involved in all of her children's activities, and "Babs," as she was affectionately known, was a popular chaperon on countless field trips, either with school or church.
She kept her family well fed and entertained, creating elaborate spreads, particularly on holidays. Her biscuits were famous. The McKerley family took yearly summer vacations, traveling throughout the USA and many other destinations. She and Russell continued to travel after becoming empty-nesters, and by the time she was in her fifties Barbara could boast to have visited all 50 states.
Barbara enjoyed gardening, painting, antiquing, reading, crossword puzzles and visiting the casino. She also dabbled in business, operating Cobb Lane Fruit Basket, an enterprise that utilized all her creative talents.
She adored her grandchildren and played with them as if she was a kid herself. She was extremely proud of her siblings, nieces and nephews, visiting and talking about them often.
Barbara had an amazingly strong constitution, successfully beating colon cancer in 2003 and overcoming COPD. She lost her beloved Russ in 2004 after 45 years of marriage and missed him every day. In her later years she struggled with the heartbreaking condition, dementia.
Barbara is survived by her three children, four grandchildren, two step-children and six step-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her two sisters.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and several beloved family members including two brothers; George William Lewis (1939-2019) and Randy E. Lewis (1956-1975).
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, the 18th of May 2022 at Ridout's Valley Chapel in Homewood beginning at three o'clock in the afternoon, visitation will be one hour prior to the service. A private burial was held at Elmwood Cemetery.
Barbara Fay Lewis McKerley passed away Monday morning, May 9, 2022, after a lengthy illness.
Barbara was born on April 5, 1938, on a farm in Cold Springs, Alabama.
She was the eldest of five children born to Daniel Phanender Lewis (1912-1978)) and Thelma Gunter Lewis (1912-1964). With brothers George (1939-2019) and Billy and sisters Patricia and Phyllis, she grew up on a quiet and beautiful tract of Cullman County farmland where the family raised cotton and other crops. Barbara loved to reminisce about her idyllic childhood growing up in the quiet and beautiful North Alabama countryside.
Barbara moved to Birmingham soon after graduating from Cold Springs High School in 1956. She worked as a model and participated in several beauty pageant competitions while employed as a receptionist and telephone operator. She met William Russell McKerley (1931-2004) in 1958 and a whirlwind courtship ensued.
The couple married in 1959 and had three children, Michael, Melissa and Lance.
Barbara took great satisfaction in her role as a mother and homemaker. She was involved in all of her children's activities, and "Babs," as she was affectionately known, was a popular chaperon on countless field trips, either with school or church.
She kept her family well fed and entertained, creating elaborate spreads, particularly on holidays. Her biscuits were famous. The McKerley family took yearly summer vacations, traveling throughout the USA and many other destinations. She and Russell continued to travel after becoming empty-nesters, and by the time she was in her fifties Barbara could boast to have visited all 50 states.
Barbara enjoyed gardening, painting, antiquing, reading, crossword puzzles and visiting the casino. She also dabbled in business, operating Cobb Lane Fruit Basket, an enterprise that utilized all her creative talents.
She adored her grandchildren and played with them as if she was a kid herself. She was extremely proud of her siblings, nieces and nephews, visiting and talking about them often.
Barbara had an amazingly strong constitution, successfully beating colon cancer in 2003 and overcoming COPD. She lost her beloved Russ in 2004 after 45 years of marriage and missed him every day. In her later years she struggled with the heartbreaking condition, dementia.
Barbara is survived by her three children, four grandchildren, two step-children and six step-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her two sisters.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and several beloved family members including two brothers; George William Lewis (1939-2019) and Randy E. Lewis (1956-1975).
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, the 18th of May 2022 at Ridout's Valley Chapel in Homewood beginning at three o'clock in the afternoon, visitation will be one hour prior to the service. A private burial was held at Elmwood Cemetery.
Barbara was born on April 5, 1938, on a farm in Cold Springs, Alabama.
She was the eldest of five children born to Daniel Phanender Lewis (1912-1978)) and Thelma Gunter Lewis (1912-1964). With brothers George (1939-2019) and Billy and sisters Patricia and Phyllis, she grew up on a quiet and beautiful tract of Cullman County farmland where the family raised cotton and other crops. Barbara loved to reminisce about her idyllic childhood growing up in the quiet and beautiful North Alabama countryside.
Barbara moved to Birmingham soon after graduating from Cold Springs High School in 1956. She worked as a model and participated in several beauty pageant competitions while employed as a receptionist and telephone operator. She met William Russell McKerley (1931-2004) in 1958 and a whirlwind courtship ensued.
The couple married in 1959 and had three children, Michael, Melissa and Lance.
Barbara took great satisfaction in her role as a mother and homemaker. She was involved in all of her children's activities, and "Babs," as she was affectionately known, was a popular chaperon on countless field trips, either with school or church.
She kept her family well fed and entertained, creating elaborate spreads, particularly on holidays. Her biscuits were famous. The McKerley family took yearly summer vacations, traveling throughout the USA and many other destinations. She and Russell continued to travel after becoming empty-nesters, and by the time she was in her fifties Barbara could boast to have visited all 50 states.
Barbara enjoyed gardening, painting, antiquing, reading, crossword puzzles and visiting the casino. She also dabbled in business, operating Cobb Lane Fruit Basket, an enterprise that utilized all her creative talents.
She adored her grandchildren and played with them as if she was a kid herself. She was extremely proud of her siblings, nieces and nephews, visiting and talking about them often.
Barbara had an amazingly strong constitution, successfully beating colon cancer in 2003 and overcoming COPD. She lost her beloved Russ in 2004 after 45 years of marriage and missed him every day. In her later years she struggled with the heartbreaking condition, dementia.
Barbara is survived by her three children, four grandchildren, two step-children and six step-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her two sisters.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and several beloved family members including two brothers; George William Lewis (1939-2019) and Randy E. Lewis (1956-1975).
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, the 18th of May 2022 at Ridout's Valley Chapel in Homewood beginning at three o'clock in the afternoon, visitation will be one hour prior to the service. A private burial was held at Elmwood Cemetery.
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