Barbara A. Nelson, a loving wife, very caring mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully Tuesday, June 30, 2015 in Cox South, Springfield, MO, with family at her side. She was born June 13, 1934 in Stockton, CA. Barbara graduated from Ozark High School and attended business college. Throughout her life, she worked for Metropolitan Life Insurance; the US Army and Air Force Motion Picture Service and the Air Force Auditor General in Panama, Central America; the NCO Club at Fort Carson, CO as a bookkeeper; Commercial Credit, Springfield, MO; and Oldsmobile of General Motors in Omaha, NE. On November 2, 1957, Barbara was united in marriage to Donald Mack Nelson in University Heights Baptist Church in Springfield, MO. After taking time off to raise her sons, she went to work in 1968 for University Heights Baptist Church as an office manager and later at South Street Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Springfield, MO, until she retired. Barbara enjoyed painting, golfing, dancing, traveling, coffee chats with friends and neighbors, peaceful times at the lake with family and friends, and she never knew a stranger. Most of all, Barbara adored and held her family tightly to her heart. She will be missed by all those she touched and loved dearly. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Kenneth William and Alta Fern Gent and her husband, Donald. Barbara is survived by two sons and their wives, Ken and Cathy Nelson and Randy and Lynn Nelson; and two grandchildren, Jennifer and Nicholas Nelson. Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 7, 2015 in Gorman-Scharpf Brentwood Chapel with Dr. Daniel Chisholm officiating. Burial will follow in the Missouri Veterans Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Monday in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to University Heights Baptist Church, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or March of Dimes.