Barbara Jean Heath

Barbara Jean Heath

1935-2025

Barbara Jean Heath passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 6, 2025 at her home. Barbara was born in Mound City, Missouri to the late Ralph Kinder and Grace Redfield Kinder. She had recently celebrated her 90th birthday on June 16th surrounded by her brother, and her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

After graduating high school in Mound City, Barbara embarked upon a life of service to others. She graduated from nursing school, earning her rank of Registered Nurse at Methodist Medical Center School of Nursing in St. Joseph, Missouri. She began her nursing career as a staff nurse but developed her greater skills in leadership roles such as Director of Inservice Education. From there Barbara pursued opportunities that allowed her to lead many nursing staff members as the Director of Nursing. Barbara served in that role in Bethany, Missouri, Gower, Missouri, and Warrensburg, Missouri. Later in her career Barbara used her considerable leadership skills to work with the local medical center to organize the first Home Health Agency in St. Joseph.

During her successful nursing career, Barbara and then husband, John Heath married and raised three children; Trish, Julie and Andy Heath. During those years Barbara served as den mother and as scout leader for all three children. She coached summer softball teams and supported all their other sporting events, music and theater performances and church camps. Barbara loved to sing and passed along that love of singing and music to her children.

Barbara was a woman of deep faith. She committed herself to serving others with kindness and helped lead her children, husband, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to a life of service to God in the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. (The RLDS Church is now known as Community of Christ.) Barbara was an ordained Elder in the church and only in recent years passed the torch of leading Sunday School classes and weekly prayer meetings with valued friends at the Abundant Life Congregation.

Even after retirement, Barbara sought to improve the lives of others in the community by serving a vital role in the church-based organization of Peace Unlimited where hundreds learned skills of peacemaking and team building. She also eagerly joined the historic sites staff in Nauvoo, Illinois to serve as a tour guide, telling the stories of early settlers in Nauvoo and the stories of church history. Barbara always loved a good story!

Barbara was proud of her contribution to Camp Courage at Camp Farwesta near Stewartsville, Missouri. Barbara served for 20 years as the Nursing Coordinator.

Also, because of her lifelong passion for reading, Barbara joyfully joined the staff of volunteers at Books Revisited, the used book store that is part of the Rolling Hills Library system. Barbara volunteered there for many years and also served on the Board of Advisors for the St. Joseph Public Library. Spending hours in the book store every week brought many cherished new friends into her life.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Grace Kinder and her brother, Jack Kinder and husband, John Heath. She is survived by her children, Trish Heath, Julie Parrott (husband, Mark Parrott), and Andy Heath (wife, Tammy Heath). She is also survived by her grandchildren Jesse Parrott, and Loralyn Jenkins (husband, Mike Jenkins) and great grandchildren Jerilyn Jenkins and Jolene Jenkins. Barbara also leaves behind her brother, Jim Kinder, her sister, Marsha Hunziger (husband, Ron Hunziger), her cousin Peggy Powell who was like another sister and cherished nieces and nephews.

A celebration of Barbara's life will take place at the Abundant Life Center Community of Christ Congregation at 5130 Faraon St. in St. Joseph, Missouri. There will be a visitation on Friday, August 15 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. All are invited at 6:30 P.M. to observe the Florence Nightingale Tribute ceremony led by the NWMO/NEKS Nurse Honor Guard. Attendees of the visitation are encouraged to wear red (Go Chiefs!)

A memorial service will be at the same location on Saturday, August 16th at 10:00 a.m. Inurnment will follow the memorial service at Mount Hope Cemetery in Mound City, Missouri.

Barbara asked that all who can, be encouraged to contribute to two organizations in her honor – the St. Joseph Public Library and/or the Food Pantry in the Abundant Life Center.

Your contributions to these organizations would be deeply appreciated, but for those who knew Barbara, you know she loved flowers, so they would be welcome, too! Online guest book and obituary at www.meierhoffer.com.