Barbara Stiefer

Barbara Alice Stiefer, age 80, of Mena, Arkansas, died on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at The Green House Cottages of Homewood in Mena, Arkansas. She was born on Tuesday, July, 14, 1942 to Charles Searcy and Alice Lorraine Smith Stogner at Florence Nightingale Hospital in Dallas, Texas.
Barbara was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend and will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Barbara grew up in both Wichita, Kansas and Dallas, Texas, graduating from Sunset High School, Dallas, Texas in 1960. A close friend, Joyce Price Lindsey, chose to play matchmaker, and invited both Barbara and husband-to-be Bill to her house in the fall of 1966. The spark was there as they met and became acquainted that day. Bill soon called her and the rest "is history", as they say. Barbara and Bill wed on September 2, 1967. They lived in Dallas, Texas early on, and later in Garland, Texas when their son was born in 1969. In 1975, Barbara and Bill moved to what became in later years The Colony, making it their home until 2021, when they moved to Mena, Arkansas to be closer to family.
Barbara loved God and knew He had her in His care, which gave her peace. She loved meeting people and caring for others. Barbara loved to read and also loved crossword puzzles and Wheel of Fortune. She and her husband were active in Trinity Presbyterian Church, The Colony, Texas, for nearly 40 years. Barbara and Bill also spent many summers months in Colorado where they hiked and enjoyed the scenery. Her love of Colorado began in the summer of 1948, when she first traveled to Nederland, Colorado with her maternal grandparents. Barbara worked several summers as a docent at the Nederland Mining Museum and trained new docents, as well. She also volunteered at the pancake breakfast during Miners Days. Barbara was also active at Nederland Community Presbyterian Church in the summer, where she volunteered at the annual church Christmas bazaar and was a member of the Presbyterian Women. Barbara was known for her neighborhood parties as well as her annual chili party where friends and family could enjoy her Texas chili. At the time of her death, Barbara was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Mena, Arkansas.
She is preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Reverend William Washington and Bessie Lena Andrews Stogner, her maternal grandparents Charles Clinton and Alice Kingsbury Starkie Smith, and her parents Charles Searcy and Alice Lorraine Smith Stogner.
Barbara is survived by her loving husband of 55.5 years, Billy Gene Stiefer of Mena; one son and daughter in law, William Eugene "Wes" and Patricia Lynn "Tricia" Stiefer of Mena; one grandson, William "Wes" Eugene Stiefer II of Mena; several nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives and dear friends.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 11, 2023, at 12:00 PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Mena, Arkansas with Pastor Bill Seitz officiating under the direction of Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas. Interment will follow at the Pinecrest Memorial Park in Mena, Arkansas. Visitation will be held on Friday, March 10, 2023 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at the Bowser Family Funeral Home Chapel in Mena, Arkansas.
Barbara was a huge supporter of mission ministry and programs over the years. The mission statement of First Presbyterian Church, Mena, Arkansas is:
to make the Kingdom of God real for the hungry, thirsty, stranger, poor, sick and prisoner.
In Barbara's last days, she discussed with family how, even in eternal life, she could make an everlasting impact for those left behind in this place. To that end, in lieu of flowers, Barbara requested to send a donation to the mission program "Carus Cares" at the following address:
First Presbyterian Church
904 Church Avenue
Mena, AR 71953
***Memo line: Carus Cares
Online Guestbook: www.bowserffh.com