Barbara Ann (Burks) Boyts went to be with her Lord on Monday, November 26, 2018 at home surrounded by family.

Barbara was born September 22, 1933 in Rogersville, MO, but her father Charles Burks worked for North American Airlines building B52's for the war effort, so her mother Marceline and she went to Kansas City, KS and lived in a storefront to be with her father. When they returned to Rogersville, her father resumed his career as a barber in both Rogersville and Springfield.

When Barb was in the sixth or seventh grade, she and several of the girls she went to school with sang in vocal trios. As a freshman in high school, she joined the band and the choir, and participated in both until she graduated in 1952. She always enjoyed playing flute in the band and singing in the choir.

Her parents owned a drug store and her father built a locker plant behind it. A short time later, Barbara convinced her parents to build a skating rink where she worked until it burned.

She was married to Jerry Boyts in 1953 and worked at a furniture store until she obtained a position at the lunch counter in the Wedgewood Drug Store. She bore two children, Dan and Susan in the late 1950's. Her husband Jerry worked for the Kitty Clover/Clary House Potato Chip company, and as manager of the Springfield Elk's Lodge #409, before Barbara and Jerry purchased Summerfield Greenhouse in 1976. They operated it for nearly thirty years until she sold it in 2003 after her husband passed away.

Barb was an early member of Schweitzer United Methodist Church. When her children were young, she joined a women's Circle at Schweitzer UMC and became very involved in the Circle and United Methodist Women's organizations. She worked on many diverse projects, bazaars, and church dinners.

She held several offices in the United Methodist Women for many years and promoted the role of women as leaders and ministers in the church. The work she did for local, regional and world missions made a positive impact in the community.

Her greatest love however, was raising her voice to the Lord in the church choir. She was a member of Schweitzer UMC choirs on and off for over fifty years and performed with the groups until shortly before her death. Recently, she especially took satisfaction in her work with the Senior Saints choir ministering to retirement communities and assisted living facilities.

Barbara lived her faith and was an example of how to follow a Christian life. She was a pleasure to be around. Her bright spiritual light followed her into every room and her smile and laugh were infectious. She will truly be missed by a host of friends and family.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Jerry, and her parents Charles Vercil and Cora Marcelene Burks formerly of Rogersville, MO.

She is survived by her son Dan Boyts, daughter Susan Cornwell, son-in-law J. E. Cornwell, and grandson Brandon Cornwell, all of Springfield, MO.

Other family members include Charles David Dunn and family, Springfield, Diane Webster and family, Rogersville, Roberta Ward and family, El Paso, TX, Stephanie LaSota and family, Plymouth, MN, Roxanna Oria-Gray and family, Alto Loma, CA, Humberto Oria and family, Alto Loma, CA, and the Burks families, Fordland.

Visitation will be at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home on Thursday, November 29, 2018 from 6-8pm.  Funeral service will be held at Schweitzer UMC on Friday, November 30, 2018 at 1pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Kidney Foundation or the Schweitzer UMC Choirs.