Barbara J. Ziegler

Ziegler, Barbara J., of Waterford, passed away December 6, 2020 at 76 years of age. Born in Pontiac to James and Isabelle (nee Shaw) Bayley. She married and later divorced Daniel D. Ziegler. Barb is survived by her life partner, Jo Nebeker; cherished mother of Daniel S.(Angie) Ziegler and David (Kelly Rische) Ziegler; grandmother of Amelia Grace, Colin, and Sadie; sister of Jim (Gwen) Bayley, Brenda Herman, Bette Szot, Jay (Jan) Bayley, the late John (Barbara Sue) Bayley, the late Beverly Gulick, and the late Bernice McCarrick; aunt of many nieces and nephews. Barb was a graduate of Pontiac Northern High School. She attended Michigan State and graduated from Wayne State with a degree in elementary education, and received her master’s plus from Oakland University. Her professional career included teaching every grade first through eighth, and became an admired administrator at the elementary and junior high school level. Barb retired in 1997 as principal of Whitman Elementary in Pontiac. After a successful and rewarding career, Barb and Jo spent over two years living full time in their motor home traveling throughout the US and Canada following the sun. In 2000, they moved into their dream home in Ivins, Utah where the sun shines every day and the snow stays in the mountains. Michigan remained home and they returned to family and dear friends in the summer. Traveling was a passion and they explored 45 different countries, visiting every continent, including Antarctica. Barb was an avid genealogist. She was passionate about leaving her family an accurate record of the Bayley/Shaw heritage, visiting and photographing family sites in England and Scotland, including a private boy’s school founded by her great uncle, Sir John Bayley, knighted for his contributions to education. Barb became ill in 2018 with cancer and fought valiantly through multiple rounds of chemo. She spent too many days in the hospital to no avail. A brilliant light went out in the world when Barbara passed. Interment will be in Ivins, Utah. A celebration of her life will be held when family and friends can safely gather together once more. Arrangements entrusted to COATS FUNERAL HOME-WATERFORD. To post a tribute, visit