Barbara Adelaide Costley

Barbara Adelaide Costley, aged 90 of Kentwood, MI beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 8, 2026 after battling lymphoma for 2 years. She was a fighter to the end, and always had a positive attitude, a smile and a joke for all the nurses and doctors that attended her.

Barbara was born on July 11th, 1935 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to Elmer and Marcha (Nichols) Wilson. She had 5 sisters and 3 brothers, of which she was the second to the youngest. She married Byram Costley, and they lived in California for 8 years then moved back to Michigan and lived in Coopersville and then Allendale until 1998, when she came to live with her son Robert and his wife Robin in Grand Rapids.

Barbara was known to her children and all of their friends as just “ma”. She touched the lives of everyone who had the honor of knowing her, and was a mother to all the young people she met. She leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, honor and compassion that lives on in all of us.

In addition to her parents and siblings, Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Byram, and her sons James and Warren.

Barbara is survived by her son George (Frieda) Costley, daughter Debra Schierbeek, son Brian (Jeannine) Costley, son Robert (Robin) Costley , daughter in law Denise (Pete) Ricketson, many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, and all of her adopted “children” who loved her as their own, especially Jerry Moleski.

A private memorial service will be planned for Barbara in the summer, where her ashes will be interred next to her husband Byram in Allendale Cemetery.