Barbara D. Spray

Barbara Dow (Moody) Spray, 70, of Charlotte, Mich., passed away on May 16, 2021, due to complications of COVID.  Born in St. Louis, Mo., on May 24, 1950, she was the daughter of Kenneth and Katharine (Thompson) Moody.  Barbara is survived by two daughters, Rebecca (Jerry Pottruff) of Fife Lake, Mich. and Katharine (Howard) Libs of Huntingtown, Md.; siblings, Ken Moody of Overland Park, Kan. and Paul (Jane) Moody of Quincy, Ill.; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; lifelong friend Diane King and only GOD knows how many “sisters”. She was predeceased by her husband, David Spray; her parents; and her sister-in-law, Sheila Moody.  An amazing mother, friend and member of the community – she will be missed by everyone who was fortunate enough to meet her.  She LOVED being a mom, “grammer,” and GG – her family was her everything.
From the beginning, Barb’s life was filled with the usual ups and downs of any human, but Barb was destined to be just a little different in the way she faced the rise and fall of the world around her.  God gave Barb a special gift and in return a gift to everyone she met; that of a huge heart and dearest friend who selflessly devoted her effort to improving the life of those around her.  Those who knew her would agree that she had a way of “collecting people.”  Their families became her family.  She could chat comfortably with a total stranger and make lifelong friends in any setting, no matter how strained the situation might present itself.  Barb loved everyone wholly, taught forgiveness even though she endured many hurts and challenges – she took those circumstances and loved harder and deeper as her life journey continued.  She faced every challenge, especially her own, with a determined attitude, a good cry, and an easy smile. And this is what drove her life.
Raised in St. Louis, Mo., Barbara always knew she wanted to be a nurse, but life had a way of leading her to college for business prior to finally finding herself in the public service industry as a paramedic.  She wasn’t your typical paramedic – the same devoted person she was in her personal relationships conveyed to her professional realm.  How many people have you met who would climb a concrete barrier during a summer rainstorm, on a busy major Atlanta Interstate in a dress-skirt and high heels to help someone involved in an auto accident and then befriend even the victim’s scared dog? Only Barb would find that “normal.” In the end, the only thing she noticed askew was that she had ruined a new pair of panty hose!
She served as a full-time paramedic and volunteered in local firehouses when off her normal duty for 15 years.  Barb went back to school to earn her degree as a licensed practical nurse.  While she worked normal hospital floors across various units, her true passion was private duty nursing.  These positions afforded her the longer and more personal connections her soul craved, and she was so good at!  She worked diligently in the AID’s epidemic often caring for patients until the end.  Their families became her family, and she even inherited a dog.  Once the girls were grown, she spread her wings and took her heart over the road to travel nursing.  There she met David Spray while working in Easton, Md. and they wed in 2005.  She often threatened to “…write a book” about some of the ambulance calls or nursing episodes, but that never happened. To be honest, it was probably safer that way!
After retiring from Nursing and the passing of her husband in 2016, Barb found herself in Charlotte, Mich. to be closer to family.  She quickly jumped into volunteer work at the Eaton Area Senior Center and Hayes Green Beach Memorial Hospital, now known as Sparrow Eaton Hospital. Being a “senior” never seemed to have crossed her mind because it never slowed her down.  She was the modern-day Nanny McPhee of friends – people didn’t know they needed her until they met her. Barb showed up and coordinated connections and friendships, rallied life around her to live fully with people who may otherwise not have become friends. She loved her friends and card making adventures with the “Cardettes,” playing dominoes until 3 a.m. with a group of her friends, grabbing one or two other ladies and taking road trip adventures sometimes just to see what was beyond the horizon and other times to visit friends back in other states.  Barb’s lifelong bucket list included a hot air balloon ride and a national railroad tour – both of which she got to do just before COVID hit.  She had the time of her life.
The view out of Barb’s home in Charlotte was of the woods, something that she dearly loved. Even as a child, Barb had a pet racoon – mother nature was her second calling.  Barb loved spoiling the wildlife around her with prime treats, peanuts, corn for the deer and a place where the animals felt so safe that they would sit at her screen door on her back porch to greet her.  Her social media and friends often got to see her visitors and when she took her trips, neighbors would come feed the animals for her.
Unfortunately, our mother and best friend passed out of this world this May leaving us physically, but she still lives on in our hearts.  Miss her, yes, but remember her and SMILE. Recall the silliness and the jokes and the uproarious laughter that was her life’s trademark. Take the time to “put on a clown nose” and take a selfie with all your friends or skip down the corridor of a cruise ship arm-in-arm with friends, singing “we’re off to see the wizard…” then, pause at the elevator as the doors open to reveal a dwarf. Remember the good times, the wonderful trips, the absolutely hilarious moments when tears came from laughing so hard you could not catch your breath!  To have known her was to have loved her, and her legacy will continue to be honored as we keep her alive in our memories. We just cannot reach out and hug her, but we can certainly cherish who she was and always will be. Our Big Sister…our dearest friend…the best mom…a shoulder to cry on and a sincere “ear to bend” when we needed it. That is Barbara Dow Spray.
A Celebration of Barbara’s life will be held at the Eaton Area Senior Center, 804 South Cochran Avenue in Charlotte, Mich. on Sunday, July 25, from 12 to 4 p.m. The family is in the care of Pray Funeral Home.