Barbara Ann Meier, 68, of Benton, KY, passed away January 27, 2020. Born in Indianapolis, IN, she is survived by her husband of 48 years, the Rev. Paul W. Meier; her children, Seth Meier and Sarah Dugan; her parents, Robert and Corrine Bush; brothers, Robert Bush and Donald Bush, and sister Elizabeth Cooper.Barbara moved to Benton with her husband in 2003 when he became pastor at St. Matthew by the Lake Lutheran Church on Hwy 641 South. She was greatly involved in their mission and ministry committee and helped them develop a parish nurse program. She enjoyed Bible studies as well as keeping her heart and mind open to the spiritual belief systems and the traditions of others. After her husband retired from the ministry, they attended First Christian Church in Murray, KY, recently participating in a week-long educational trip studying systemic racism and visiting sites prominent in the civil rights movement. One year ago, she and her husband fulfilled a dream of walking a 300 mile portion of the Camino de Santiago (The Walk of St. James) in the northern part of Spain, where they followed the path of Jesus’ disciple, James the Great, as he spread the gospel in that region.
Just as important to her, she called the nursing profession a strong component of her religion. She worked for forty eight years in the nursing field. Barbara received her Registered Nursing degree at Tennessee State University in Nashville, TN. She advanced to become the Director of Nurses for McKendree Village Retirement Community and Rehab Center in Hermitage, TN. Upon moving to Benton, KY, she became a nurse circulator in the surgery department at Marshall County Hospital for fourteen years where she lived out her passion for caring for people. She loved knitting, quilting, crocheting, swimming, hiking, kayaking, and her cats.
A memorial service will be held to celebrate her life on Saturday, February 1, 2020 at First Christian Church, 111 N. 5th Street, Murray, KY. The Rev. Dr. Ruth Ragovin will officiate, assisted by the Rev. Colleen Winkler.
Visitation at the church before the service will be 2 pm – 4 pm. The memorial service will begin at 4 pm.
Collier Funeral Home, 211 West 5th Street, Benton, KY 42025 is handling arrangements.
Memorial gifts can be made to St. Matthew by the Lake Lutheran Church, 3966 US Hwy 641 South, Benton, KY, 42025 to be directed toward their support of Trinity/HOPE, a non-profit program for feeding children in the Christian schools in Haiti.