Lesta Mae Barr

Lesta Mae (Griffith) Barr, 86, passed away peacefully Sunday, March 28, 2021 at home in Liberal, KS with family by her side.

Lesta Mae was born December 21, 1934, in Topeka, KS, daughter of Lester William and Georgia May (Grim) Griffith and the younger sister of Joyce Ann (Griffith) Barr.

She graduated from Highland Park High School, Topeka, KS, 1952. On November 22, 1952, she married Maurice Duane Barr in Topeka, KS. Together they began their journey that led them to western KS in 1956 where cattle ranching and farming became their life’s work and they raised a family of eight children. Lesta Mae supported all operations while meeting  the demands of raising a large family.  After her children were raised she worked as an office manager and bookkeeper for David Barr Trucking for many years.

Lesta Mae is survived by her husband of 68 years Maurice and seven of their children:  Becky Maureen (Michael) Gatlin of Pueblo West, Co, David Phillip (Barbara) Barr of Turpin, OK, Mark Wayne (Linda) Barr of Plains, KS, Martha Mae (James) Darnell of Liberal, KS, Sarah Barr of Turpin, OK,  Elizabeth Ann (John) Parsons of Wichita, KS, and Matthew Duane Barr (Matthew Albers ) of Wichita, KS, son-in-law Ryan Dolan Wilson of Colorado Springs, CO.  She is survived by brother-in-law Robert Clark (Elsie) Barr.  She is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren as well as in-laws and numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces, and great nephews.

Lesta Mae is preceded in death by her parents Lester William Griffith and Georgia May (Grim) Griffith, sister Joyce Ann (Griffith) Barr, and infant brother Billy Griffith as well as her youngest daughter Amy Leslie (Barr) Wilson and son-in-law Richard Freeman.

Viewing will be 1:00 pm to 7:00 pm Thursday April 1, 2021 at Miller Mortuary, Liberal, Kansas. The family will be present to greet friends from 5:30 to 7:00 pm

Funeral Services will be 2:00 pm Friday, April 2, 2021, at the First Presbyterian Church with Pastor Rex Petty, officiating.

Burial will follow in the Arkalon Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial contribution to one of the following that Lesta Mae held in great regard:  Southwest Miracles, First Presbyterian Church, or Kismet United Methodist Church in care of Miller Mortuary PO Box 826 Liberal, KS 67905-0826.

Friends may send condolences to the family through Lesta Mae's tribute web page at www.millermortuary.net.