Marie Barber – Metz Mortuary

Marie (Peters) Barber passed away Monday, April 8, 2013 at Midwest Covenant Home in Stromsburg.  She was born June 10, 1916 to Jacob and Justina (Ratzlaff) Peters on a rural farm northwest of Henderson.  She attended a rural school southeast of Bradshaw and being an excellent student, quickly became the teacher’s assistant, an honor she thoroughly enjoyed.  Her education, however, was cut short when, as the oldest daughter and with her brothers in the service, she was asked to begin working as a domestic to help the family financially.  In the mid 1930s, she began working for the WPA sewing factory in York.  While working in York, she met Melvan Barber who was also working for the WPA.  His project was to help build the York City Auditorium.  The couple were married September 4, 1937 in York and honeymooned at the Nebraska State Fair.  They lived their entire married life in York at the corner of Delaware and Sixth.  For several years, the couple, along with Ray Pierce, owned and ran Ray and Mel’s Auto parts on Division Avenue. 

When Melvan passed away in 1967, Marie began working at York College as assistant cook and later the head cook.  She also had a rug weaving business in her home for several years and had many loyal customers.  Throughout her life, Marie loved sewing, crocheting and all kinds of crafts.  As her health began to force her to slow down, she began crafting home decorations using plastic mesh, yarn and her never-ending imagination.  She loved sharing her handicrafts and many are still displayed at the Midwest Covenant Home in Stromsburg where she spent her last years. 

Marie is survived by three children:  Robert Barber of Jasper, AL., Florence (Joe) Ptacek of Owatonna, MN., and Donna (Larry) Rhoades of Gresham; eight grandchildren, eleven great-grandchildren, two great-great-granddaughters and a host of friends.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Melvan; her parents, three brothers and three sisters.

Services will be held at 10:30am Friday, April 12, 2013 at the Metz Chapel in York.  Interment will be in York’s Greenwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from noon-9pm, Wednesday and 9am-9pm Thursday at the mortuary.  The family will greet friends Thursday evening from 6-8pm. Memorials may be directed to the Midwest Covenant Home in Stromsburg or York Adopt-A-Pet.  ​
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