Barbara Alberta Reiss (Nicoll)(Sage) passed away on October 15, 2025 in Springfield, Missouri.  Barbara was born on July 12, 1935 in Apache, Oklahoma to Frederick and Wylla (Boydstun) Reiss.  She had one older brother Jimmie Reiss.

Barbara would grow up working on her father’s farm, but the family would move to California while she was still young.  It was while she was living in California that she would meet her 1^st husband Teddy Nate Nicoll of Arizona.  They would meet on a blind date and on June 1, 1952 they were married in Los Angeles, California.  After their marriage Ted would enlist in the Air Force and would serve in the Korean War.  Upon his return they would spend the next 20 odd years traveling around the country with each transfer.  During this time they would have five children.  Ronald Nicoll, Dennis Nicoll, Phillip Nicoll, Penni Cox(Nicoll), and Mark Nicoll.  Ted would retire on September 1, 1975 at which time the family would move to Warrensburg, Missouri where Ted would attend CMSU for his master’s degree.  Barbara and Ted would continue to stay in Warrensburg after Ted received an invitation to stay at CMSU and be a Faculty Teacher.  After Ted’s retirement in December 1998, Ted and Barbara would serve a mission to China where they taught English at Beijing University.  Unfortunately Ted would pass away on February 22, 2002.

Barbara would join The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints early in her marriage with Ted and would be sealed to him in the Mesa Temple on June 1, 1961.  The church would become a major part of her life as she would serve in many callings and several missions with Ted and James.  Her faith in the church and her family would help her when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in January 1981.  Her faith would also sustain her when Ted passed away.

After Ted’s passing she would receive a phone call that would change her life again.  She met James Albert Sage, he was a recent Widower and wanted to start a support group.  On May 3, 2003 Barbara would marry James and Barbara would gain two more children with the addition of James’s children Kathy Willis (Sage) and Jamie Sage.

Barbara and James would have almost 20 years together and during their marriage Barbara would share the gospel with James and after he joined the church they would go on to serve together on several missions. Barbara and James served faithfully until his passing in January 2022.

Throughout Barbara’s life her faith was her guiding light and her love for her family gave her the peace through difficult times.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, brother, and her two husbands

Barbara is survived by her 5 children, 2 stepchildren, 11 grandchildren, 2 step grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren and one great grandchild on the way.