Barbara Michael

1941 - 2020

BARBARA ANN MICHAEL
November 12, 1941 - November 30, 2020

It is sorrowing to note that Barbara Michael passed away quietly at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles on November 30, 2020. After a two-year struggle, her weakened body succumbed to multiple organ failure driven by pancreatic cancer at the age of 79. Her husband, Matt, and their three daughters, Debbie, Kari, and Christy, surrounded her bedside as she moved peacefully to a better place.

Barbara was born in Bay City, Texas to John and Anna Meriwether on November 12, 1941. Due to her father's work with an oil company, she moved to several Texas towns through sixth grade, then on to Louisiana where she finished high school. To complete her formal education, she graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana. After being recruited to teach in the Bakersfield City School District in 1962, she taught for 25 years, most of them at Col. Nichols Elementary School, taking breaks to be a stay-at-home mom.

If there is such a category known as the "perfect wife, mother and loyal friend" all rolled into one, she met that criteria. She was a gentle, kind and compassionate person with a strong, quiet faith in the Lord which served her well throughout all the challenging health issues she faced over the past several years. However, none of that deterred her from remaining positive with an upbeat, perpetual smile beaming through all the adversity. Family was her top priority. She loved nothing more than to have her three girls under her roof at the same time. She looked forward to family campouts, vicious card games, baking Christmas goodies with her grandsons and cheering them on at their baseball and basketball games. Being late was her pet peeve, much to Matt's chagrin; her motto was, "If you're not early, you're late!"

In retirement, Barbara enjoyed volunteering in her grandsons' classrooms, gardening, and traveling as a couple or with the Barretts and Woods (The BMWs). Early on, she collected bells from her various travels and later developed a deep love of turtles which she displayed inside and out. Barbara was a voracious reader and a long-time member of the Bakersfield Keynotes. She loved gathering with her Monday Lunch Bunch, Nichols retired teachers and friends for Bridge/Poker Night. Barbara was a devoted member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church and a proud member of the California Retired Teachers Association, Kern Division.

Barbara leaves behind her husband, Matt, after 56 years of marriage, daughters, Debbie Michael of Santa Barbara, Kari Fabrizio (Kevin), Christy Baker (Bryon) and grandsons Michael and Brandon all from Bakersfield; brothers, Dr. John (Bob) Meriwether (Dorothy) of Arnaudville, LA and William (Bill) Meriwether (Denise) of Port Barre, LA, brother-in-law, Paul Michael (Joyce) of Bakersfield, and many other relatives.

In memory of Barbara's life, there will be a gathering of family and friends during a visitation held at Greenlawn Funeral Home at 3700 River Blvd. in Bakersfield, CA, Tuesday, December 15th, 4:00-7:00pm in the Chapel. To be safe, masks must be worn and social distancing practiced. A Mass at OLPH Church, 124 Columbus St., Bakersfield, CA, will be held Wednesday, December 16th, at 10:00am. Bring your own chair and dress warmly as services will be held outside on the grass. Wearing face masks and social distancing are required by the church at all times. A private burial will take place at Greenlawn following Mass for family only. Due to Covid and/or those out of town, you may view the visitation and funeral Mass at GreenlawnFuneral.com; click on Obituaries > Obituary Listing > Barbara Michael > Photos & Videos > Watch Webcast. We invite you to leave a comment and/or picture on her Memory Wall.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to New Teacher Grants. Make checks out to "KCSOS Educational Services Foundation." On the memo line write: "CalRTA New Teacher Grants." Send to Kris Eastridge 2121 22nd Street, Bakersfield, CA 93301. Or, make a donation to a charity of your choice. Thank you so much!