Barbara McLain, born to Harold and Thelma Bischoff on March 23, 1939, in Joplin, MO, peacefully passed away on March 11, 2024. Barbara was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and graduated from Will Rogers High School before attending Harding College in Searcy, AR, where she met her beloved husband, John McLain. They were joined in marriage at the South National Church of Christ in Springfield, MO, on August 29, 1959. Together, they cherished their two children, Brian McLain and Amy (McLain) Harriman, along with their spouses Kimberly McLain and Randy Harriman, respectively.

Barbara was a dedicated educator, earning her degree in English Education from Arizona State University while residing in Phoenix, AZ, with John. She actively participated in her children’s lives, serving as a Cub Scout and Girl Scout leader and volunteering as a home room mother. Her passion for teaching led her to roles as a kindergarten teacher and later as a Homebound Teacher and Counselor, where she inspired young people to overcome challenges while staying connected to education. Barbara also shared her teaching skills by leading Ladies Bible Classes.

In 1984, Barbara and John returned to Missouri, where they established a successful Registered Brangus Cattle operation. Barbara found joy in gardening, food preservation, and the skills of country living. Throughout their lives, the couple remained active members of their church community, with Barbara teaching Bible classes and providing counseling to youth.

Upon retirement in 1994, Barbara and John settled in Springfield, MO, where they continued their hobbies of gardening, reading, and craftwork, especially crocheting. Barbara also pursued her interest in genealogy, building her family’s history and reconnecting with her extended family. She was devoted to her faith and church ministries at the Sunset Church of Christ.

Barbara McLain will be deeply missed by her loving family, including her three grandsons, Joshua, Jordan, and Jared, and great-grandson Brayden Harriman, as well as by the countless lives she touched through her kindness, guidance, and unwavering faith.