Barbara Youngworth

Barbara Lou Youngworth (Friend), 79, of Overland Park, KS passed early in the morning of August 4, 2018 at the Kansas City Hospice and Palliative Center in the presence of her children.  A Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 23, 2018 at the Johnson County Funeral Chapel, 11200 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66210, from 10:00 –10:45am, with a Memorial Service at 10:45am.   A Luncheon will follow from 12:00 - 2:00pm at the Matt Ross Community Center, 8101 Marty St, Overland Park, KS.  Barbara will be buried in Tyndall, SD on Saturday, August 25 in the Youngworth family plot.  A Visitation will be held at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home, 2901 Douglas, Yankton, SD, Saturday, August 25, 2018 from 10 -11am with burial to follow.  In lieu of flowers, gifts may made in memory of Barbara Youngworth to the Kansas City Hospice House, 12000 Wornall Rd, Kansas City, MO 64145 or Hands to Hearts Christmas Fund, 9130 Flint, Overland Park, KS 66214 in Memory of Barbara Youngworth Christmas Fund.

Barbara Lou Youngworth (Friend) was born on March 28, 1939, Gardner, ND.  Barbara was raised in Fargo, ND and graduated from Fargo High School in 1957.  She attended Yankton College where she met her future husband Tom in 1957.  After beginning their marriage in Sioux Falls, SD, they welcomed five children to the family: Andrew Carl (born in Sioux Falls, SD), John Thomas (born in Sioux Falls, SD), Thomas William, Jr. (born in Aberdeen, SD), Theresa Elizabeth (born in Kansas City, KS), and Nancy Lou Ann (born in Kansas City, MO).

Tom and Barbara moved from Sioux Falls, SD to Aberdeen, SD in 1961 and moved to Overland Park, KS in 1966.  Barbara was a home maker for several years, before getting her real estate license in the 1970’s and eventually owned and operated a successful Century 21, Heritage real estate franchise until 1989.

Barbara had a tremendous zest for life.  She was a Life Master Bridge player and loved to play bridge at the Bridge Studio and Matt Ross Center with her friends, an avid Bingo and Euchre player, always game for a trip to a river boat casino.    Many nights were spent playing Texas Hold ‘em and Barb won third place just days before her passing.  She loved cooking and baking, and have passed down many family recipes to the family.  Days before her passing, she was ready to make jello salad.  More importantly, she was an amazing daughter, wife, sister, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  She was called Meme, Babs, Gram, Gramma, Grandma Barbie and Barb by her grand-children, and along with her husband, Tom, always welcomed the kids and grandkids to stay at the house for days, months, or in some cases years.  She loved us unconditionally and she will be missed.

Barbara was preceded in death by parents Luella Gertrude Pratt Friend and Walter Dale Friend, loving husband Tom, and brother Lorne Friend.  She is survived by her loving family, including her brother John and his wife Linda, children, Andrew Youngworth of Carthage, MO; John Youngworth and Lori of Louisburg, KS; Tom Youngworth and Tess of Overland Park, KS, Theresa Chesnut of Los Alto, CA; and Nancy and Rob Atwater of Lee’s Summit, MO. Grandchildren remembering Meme/Gram/Gramma/Grandma Barbie/Babs/Barb include: Aaron and Kendall Youngworth, David and Beth Youngworth, Aimee and James Campbell, Shelby and Colby Johnson, Hilary and Lawson Warren, Kelsey and Matt Roselli, Keely Youngworth, Aric Youngworth, Megan Youngworth, Adam Youngworth, Lydia Youngworth and John Chesnut.  Eleven great-grandchildren round out the Youngworth family tree to date.