February 9, 1943 – March 2, 2025

The life of Myrna Kay Barber will be celebrated at 2pm on May 3 at Calvary Bible Church in Grass Valley.

Myrna met her Savior face to face on March 2, 2025, after a day with close family by her side with stories, laughter, prayer, singing, gratitude and tears. She was 82. Over her six decades in Nevada County Myrna was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and friend to so many.

Born on February 9, 1943, in Centralia, Illinois, Myrna spent her early years in Witt, Illinois, where her father Keith served as district superintendent and her mother taught 7th grade. While her brother Keith was in school, Myrna and her sister Sandy enjoyed the care of a close family friend before the family relocated briefly to Holtville and later Compton, California.

During high school in Compton, Myrna excelled, serving as the sophomore homecoming princess, a flag and drill team member, cellist in the orchestra, a class officer and part of the Senior Service Club.

Graduating 13th in her class in 1960, Myrna pursued night courses at Long Beach City College and promoted through several positions including the California Highway Division in Los Angeles and administrative assistant to the CEO of Computer Sciences in El Segundo.

Months after meeting on a blind date at a spring beach party, Myrna married David Riley Barber on November 26, 1960, at the First Baptist Church in Compton.

Myrna worked as an executive secretary while attending night classes the University of Southern California and received an honorary PHT Degree for “Putting Hubby Through.” The couple welcomed their first daughter Cindy in 1963 while Dave was in pharmacy school at USC. Lisa came along in 1966 while the family lived in Tustin, and Jenny was born in 1971 once the family had settled in Grass Valley.

Myrna’s heart was centered on family. She delighted in raising their daughters, creating a welcoming home, crafting a delicious variety of family meals, and participating in church and community activities.

As a young mom she taught children’s swim lessons in Grass Valley and Vacation Bible School at Calvary Bible Church, and sang in “The Lightside”, a 10-member group sharing faith through song.

In the early 80’s Dave and Myrna joined friends to launch the Ridge Racquet Club, which Myrna managed for nearly 10 years. Later she founded Apple Tree Card and Gift at the Neal Street location where Phoenix Drug, the family pharmacy, had been for 3 decades. Myrna embraced new opportunities as Director of the Nevada County Senior Center and Executive Director for CABPRO.

An avid tennis player, skier, and outdoor enthusiast, Myrna loved time with her family on the houseboat at Englebright or Lake Shasta, family ski trips, and her midweek pass at Sugar Bowl with girlfriends. Camping or boating adventures and gardening brought her joy even through her grandparenting years.

In retirement, Myrna shared her warmth and talents as a Nana to her grandchildren, deaconess and office assistant at Calvary Bible Church, discussion leader at Bible Study Fellowship, consultant for Mary Kay cosmetics, and volunteer at Livingwell Medical Clinic. She will be remembered for her welcoming smile, joyful outlook, can-do attitude, and culinary skills that brightened family gatherings.

Myrna is survived by her loving husband of 64 years, David Barber; brother Keith Martin of Santa Barbara; sister Sandra Pyle of Virginia; daughters Cindy (Bob) Morgan, Lisa Alexander, and Jenny (Garitt) Cox; grandsons Bryce and Chase Morgan, Riley and Wyatt Cox; step-granddaughters Cyla and Makenna Alexander, and many nieces and nephews.