Barbara Lee Daniel of Springfield, MO passed peacefully on December 29,2024 at the age of 90.  In her final days, she was able to see and talk to her children and grandchildren who had all gathered in Springfield for Christmas.

Barbara was born in Siloam Springs, AR on Nov. 7, 1934 to James & Margaret Abraham.   Prior to World War II, the family moved to Kansas City, MO where Barbara attended elementary school and took her first piano lessons.   She was a very bright student who loved learning and advanced a grade level while in elementary school.   She also developed a love of the piano and music which lasted throughout her lifetime.

After the war, the family moved to Noel, MO.   While in high school she advanced another grade level and graduated from Noel High School at the age of 16.  She attended college at Southwest Missouri State where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Education at the age of 20.  While attending SMS, she was an active member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority and served on the newspaper & yearbook staffs.    She also met her future husband, Ronald Daniel.

Barbara and Ron were married at St. John's Episcopal Church in Springfield, MO on April 29, 1955, just a few days prior to her college graduation.   Ron enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps.  After he completed basic training in San Diego, CA – she followed him to bases in Florida and Minnesota.   While in Minnesota, their first child, Jana was born.

When Ron's military service was completed, the couple relocated back to Springfield, MO and had two additional children, Karen and Ron Jr.   In 1966, the family moved to Oklahoma City, OK and had their fourth child, Christopher.

Barbara was a loving and devoted wife and mother.  She instilled the importance of education in her children and grandchildren.   Many hours were spent with her children drilling spelling words or multiplication tables, all while she was preparing dinner or cleaning up afterward.  She encouraged reading and taught them how to use the encyclopedia to research topics in which they had an interest.   Her devotion to education resulted in college degrees for all her children, two PhD's and one Master's degree.     All of her grandchildren have graduated from college or will be graduating this year.

In 1982, Barbara and Ron returned to Springfield, MO when Ron rejoined the family trucking business, The Daniel Company of Springfield, with his brother Larry and father Raymond.   They rejoined St. John's Episcopal Church and Barbara was very active in several women's groups and altar guild.   She maintained a deep faith in Christ throughout her life.

She had a wide variety of interests and loved to learn.  This included taking several additional classes at SMS when she returned to Springfield and learning to shoot skeet and fly fish with her husband Ron.  She enjoyed travel including a trip to Paris, France and numerous trips to see family and grandkids in California, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

Barbara is preceded in death by her loving husband of 69 years, Ronald E. Daniel, granddaughter Margaret Jane "Maggie" Daniel, her parents James Howard and Margaret Karoline Abraham and two brothers  - James Clifton and Dan Howard Abraham.

She is survived by her 4 children – Jana Lee Anderson and husband Steve of Edmond, OK.   Karen Daniel of Ozark, MO, Ronald E. Daniel, Jr and wife Laura of Concord, CA and Christopher G. Daniel and wife Marcey of Lewisburg, PA as well as 5 grandchildren – Sloan Anderson, Chase Anderson, Fiona Daniel-Donate, Mandy Daniel and Alan Daniel.  Additional survivors include her sister, Lamana Abraham, sister-in-law Marilyn Daniel of Springfield, MO as well as nephews Ray Burger, Justin and Ryan Abraham and nieces Leslie Keiser, Judy Burger and Nancy Dietrich.

Memorial services and Committal will be held at St. John's Episcopal Church in Springfield, MO on Friday, March 28 at 10:30 a.m. with an informal reception to follow at the church.   The family requests no flowers be sent.   If desired, donations could be made to St. John's Episcopal Church Foundation or the charity of your choice.   Alternatively, a scholarship fund is being established in her name at Missouri State University.