Barbara Jean (Hunter) Leonard, 68, of rural El Dorado Springs, was born January 20, 1947 in Nevada, Mo. And died at her home, after a short illness, on November 28, 2015 with her husband Bill by her side.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, John Henry Hunter, Jr. and Marylee (Loftin) Hunter and two brothers, Mike and Jim Hunter.
Barbara attended part of the first grade at El Dorado Springs and continued her schooling in Blue Springs, Mo.
On July 7, 1989, Barbara married Billie Joe Leonard and together have four children, who survive her.
Barbara did many things during her lifetime. She owned and operated a Beauty Shop in Blue Springs and became the first woman, licensed auctioneer in the El Dorado Springs and surrounding area. Barbara and Bill together operated BJ’s Auction and Sales, having had the retail store in the same building in Tiffin, Mo. that her grandfather had operated a grocery store in years before, and as housewife and partner to Bill in their livestock operation.
Barbara truly enjoyed country life and doing everything with the true love of her life, her husband Bill. She enjoyed sewing for her family, garage sales, reading, gardening, flowers, refinishing furniture, upholstery, raising chickens and bottle calves. She had that special touch nursing calves back to health that most wouldn’t give a second chance to. In more recent years she enjoyed many trips to the Downstream Casino.
She enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She rarely missed a summer softball game and loved to see their improvements and accomplishments in the game. She taught her granddaughters the “old” ways of good cooking and her grandsons about the great outdoors and wonders in her small piece of the world.
Survivors include her husband Bill of the home; children: Rick (LeeAnn) Snodgrass of Oak Grove, Mo., Ron (Peggy) Snodgrass of El Dorado Springs, Mo., Travis (Terry) Leonard of El Dorado Springs, Mo., and Angie (Ron) Carr of Ft. Scott, Ks.
She was a very special grandmother (Mam’ma) to ten grandchildren: Travis Snodgrass, Jamie Wilcox, Allyson and Andrea Snodgrass, Billy T. (Katrice), Brandon, and Nellie Leonard, Samantha, Natalie, and Morgan Carr, and three great grandchildren: Colton Wilcox, C.J. Snodgrass, and Taylor Leonard.
Also surviving are one sister, Virginia (Ivan) Smith of Lincoln, Mo., three special nephews: David, Alan, and Eddie Hines of Harwood, Mo. And three special sister-in-laws: Mildred Hines of Harwood, Mo., Nelva Mays of El Dorado Springs, Mo. and Marilyn Hunter of Blue Springs, Mo. and numerous other brother and sister-in-laws, nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A special thank you to the nurses from Hospice Compassus and Brinda Stroer.
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