Monroe, Barbara – 1913-2009

BROWN, HANCOCK, HELPHREY, MONROE

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 3/26/2009 at 21:39:34

Barbara Monroe, formerly of Colfax, passed away on March 16, 2009.
She had 95 wonderful years. Funeral services for Mrs. Monroe will be held on Saturday, March 21, at the Colfax United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. with burial following at Colfax Cemetery.
Visitation for Mrs. Monroe will be held today at Coburn Funeral Home of Colfax with family present to greet friends from 6 to 8 p.m.
Memorials may be given to the Barbara Monroe Memorial Fund and online condolences may be left for the family at www.coburnfuneralhomes.com.
Barbara Alison was born in Colfax on Nov. 25, 1913, to Benjamin A. and Maude Helphrey Brown. She graduated from Colfax High School, and she received an associate of arts degree from Stephens College in Missouri and a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Colorado.
On Aug. 5, 1939, she was married to James Monroe. They lived in Verbank, N.Y., and later in Shreveport, La., before returning to Colfax, where she was a partner in The Monroe Company since 1962.
She had been an active member of the Presbyterian Church in Colfax, serving as trustee for 40 years and an organist for 37 years.
She also enjoyed accompanying high school band soloists for 25 years.
A 75-year member and officer of P.E.O., Barbara was also a member of two college sororities: Phi Theta Kappa, Jr. College Scholastic and Chi Delta Phi, writing. She served on various local civic committees, was a past member of the Des Moines Civic Music Board, the Jasper County Cancer Board and the Interfaith Center Board. She was also a trustee for Schlosser Park in Colfax.
Barbara maintained a lifelong interest in gardening and sports, especially golf. She continued playing piano and organ through the last years of her life, often performing for others at the Lodge of Ashworth, where she lived for the last 10 years.
She is survived by four children, Martha Hancock, of Ridgefield, Wash., Sheila Monroe of Des Moines, Kirby Monroe of New Berlin, Wis., and Mark Monroe, of Des Moines. There are also 11 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, both of her sisters, her husband, and one son, Stephen.
Source: Newton Daily News; Thursday, March 19, 2009