Born in Roseland, KS in 1930. By the 1940-1950’s she was recognized for her beautiful singing voice. She loved music and dance, winning many contests of the day. During the Big Band era, she had a singing spot with the Tommy Dorsey band. She graduated 1951 as an RN from St. Frances Hospital School of Nursing, Wichita, KS. And this career would sustain her life’s journey.
She met Captain Richard L. McCluney and married in 1953, becoming a military wife in the United States Air Force. As an experienced civilian emergency room nurse, she worked @ various base hospitals. Often assisting the military medical staff’s “Crash Team” as a First Responder to inbound aircraft emergencies. She had many stories of riding out in the “cracker boxes” (military nickname for ambulance) saving lives & helping the sick.
Having a profound impact as an ER nurse, her career steadily grew into administration and leadership rolls becoming Director of Nurses in various hospitals and facilities throughout the USA. Specializing in everything spanning ER, surgical, psychiatric, and geriatric care. Her top priority was always her patient, & she held herself & her staff accountable, uncompromising, and demanding at the highest possible levels. Her patients undoubtedly, could not have received better. Her knowledge of medicine & procedure, wrapped in compassion, was such that many a doctor relied on her advice & expertise. An assist to eliminate missed opportunities & ensuring proper attention to every detail. She retired Director of Nurses Alaska Pioneer Home. Then volunteered as a counselor on a suicide help line. Throughout her life, to the grand age of 92, her doctors respected & continued to recognize her abilities, which never diminished.
The light of her life was family and faith. Tiny in stature, but immense in love of family, her biggest delight in life was her grand & great grandchildren. Sustained by her deep love for Jesus and our Blessed Mother Mary, she now dances and sings in Heaven evermore.
Barbara is survived by her three children, Teresa “Tuni” McCluney of The Colony, TX, Denise McGreevy and her husband, Dr. Michael of Brookline Station, MO, Richard A. McCluney and his wife, Patricia of Garden Plain, KS; her four grandchildren Emile Lesher McCluney, Kristin McGreevy Gardner and husband, Richard, Erik McGreevy and partner, Jessica Bennett, Dr. Joesph McGreevy and wife, Marina; her great-grandchildren, Lily Caitlin Gardner, Eleanora Louise Gardner, Beatrix Rose Gardner, Mila McGreevy; her brother, Lonnie Jarvis of Wichita, KS.
Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. Richard L. McCluney; her brother, Emile Angeline; and her parents, Barbara and Anthony Jarvis.
Family and friends are invited to a Remembrance Gathering at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 8520 Main Street, Frisco, Texas 75033, on Wednesday, June 1, 2022, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM with a Rosary beginning at 7:00 PM.
A Memorial Mass and Inurnment will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 132 South Millwood, Wichita, Kansas 67213, on June 18, 2022 at 10:30 AM with Rosary at 10:00 AM.
The family asks that you consider making a donation to: Birthline, Inc., 339 N. Seneca, Wichita, Kansas 67203