Lois J. Barber

Lois J. Barber of Bay City, Oscoda, Wolverine, MI and Bradenton, FL passed away at Tawas Village surrounded by her loving family on May 7, 2022. Lois was born on February 21, 1930 to the late Harold and Helen (Doyle) Kahn. Lois was one of the original founding members of The Sound Waves Jazz Orchestra, a piano player for Shoreline Players and a member of Suncoast Mummers String Band of Bradenton, Florida. Lois played the organ for Masses, funerals and weddings at St. Maria Goretti, Holy Trinity and Sacred Heart (Oscoda). Lois graduated Cum Laude from Saint Mary's Catholic School in 1947. She enjoyed many creative talents: knitting, crocheting, painting and attending musical events.
Mrs. Barber is survived by her children, Judy Barber Haertel, Sandra (Beson) Nephew, Peggy (Barber) Layman and Ronald Layman and Gary and Therese (Terri) Barber; grandchildren, David Bradley, Rhonda (Jim) VanTiflin, Leah (Jan) Behnke, Dr. Anna Maria (Kyle Leathers) Flores, Amy (Bill) Bielas, Connie (Mike) Steger, Timmy (Lisa) Beson, Patty (Justin) Lickfelt, Alexandrea (Brian) Green and Ronald Layman; great grandchildren, Raigan and Brenan Bradley, Charles (Mariah) Proctor, Bryar Proctor, Valentina, Sofia, and Carsten Behnke, Breah Marie Willy, Lyric Flores Leathers, Kiersten, Allen, and Alexis Bielas, Andrew, Zachary, and Zoe Steger, Nicholas, Grace, and Aubrey Beson, Lauren (Hunter) Scorey, Lance, Lawsen and Landen Beson-Montoya and Ben and Conner Lickfelt, Adam and Brianna Green and Dylan Layman and one great-great granddaughter, Payton Proctor and Lois' son-in-law, Michael Levengood. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Robert E. Barber, on August 25, 1988; sister, Enola Bertrand; daughter, Kathy (Barber) Levengood; special friend, Howard Businski and her son-in-law, Peter Haertel.
Funeral Liturgy will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 12, 2022 at St. Catherine of Siena Parish. Celebrant will be Rev. Fr. Bob Byrne. Interment will take place in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Oscoda, Michigan at 3:00 p.m. Visitation will take place on Wednesday, May 11, 2022 at the Gephart Funeral Home from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. Mrs. Barber will be taken to the church to lie in state on Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of Mass. Memorial contributions can be made in Lois Barber's name for the scholarship fund to the Tawas Community Concert Band, C/O Jim Sapp, 430 Ottawa Dr., Oscoda, MI  48750.