Barbra Anne Ray

Barbra “Barb” Ray, 56, of Ogden, Iowa, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Monday, November 18, 2024. 

Barb (Ray) Lee, strong, stubborn, willful, independent, caring, protective, loving, loyal, fun loving, quick witted, blunt, opinionated, barefoot, bubble blowing, gritty, music loving, dancing, frog loving, rock collecting hippie would start to describe Barb. 

Barbra Anne Lee came into this world July 6, 1968 to parents; John Lee and LaVona (Lane) Hollander. She was brought home to torment and bless her older sister Laurie. She was born in Creston, Iowa and attended school through middle school before moving to Earlham, Iowa. After two years in Earlham School she moved to Afton, Iowa and graduated from East Union High School. 

She was active in music and sports. She played the baritone in band and was a pitcher and formidable catcher in softball. She excelled at shot put and disc throwing in track.

She went on to attend college at SWCC and Buena Vista University, obtaining Master’s Degrees in Education, Science and Psychology. She also attended culinary school and became a chef. 

Barb worked many years at Trolli. She worked as a bakery manager at Easters and Hy-Vee. She made some amazing cakes over the years. She taught school for several years while her health held out. She also worked as a counselor. She worked other places as a chef as well. 

She was a woman of all trades: carpentry, plumbing, auto mechanics. She loved rock hunting and took home any she thought were special. Thousands of rocks made it into and outside her home. She loved frogs, vintage clothes and 70’s decorations/design. She loved different colors and colorful patterns. 

She loved science, getting outside and getting in the dirt. She was able to feed squirrels out of her hand. She wasn’t afraid of hard work or getting dirty. She loved quality jewelry and was great at spotting flaws and fakes. Didn’t have to be fancy but had to be quality. She did a lot of home improvement and DYI inside and out. 

Barb was vibrant and full of life even after being diagnosed with a terminal disease. She did nothing to earn it nor did she add to it. A transplant was impossible due to the fact her body would reject it. 

Even with that diagnosis and through incredible pain and other issues, Barb showed us she was a fighter. She said she was not going to live dying but instead was going to die living and boy she did. She wasn’t going to let it beat her. 

She would go down the road blowing bubbles out of her vehicle. Barb dressed like a hippie and was her own person and didn’t care what other people thought. If you were her friend, you were family. She was loyal. She was a devoted aunt and great aunt. She loved a good debate, argument and a righteous fight. She was a great neighbor. 

You could depend on Barb no matter what you needed unless it was to play victim or be coddled. Then you had better be ready for some truth. 

She loved to shop at thrift stores, flea markets and even sift through construction/destruction sites to find treasures. So many thoughtful gifts came from those treasures. She always remembered what you liked

Her last years were devoted to bringing family closer. She engineered fantastic sisters weekends and times with friends and family. 

About 14 years ago she began her final relationship with an amazing human being, Mark Simpson. He showed her what it was like to be loved and be with someone who respected her and allowed her to be Barb. We are so grateful they found each other. He will always be our family.

Surviving Barb are her husband, Mark Simpson of Ogden, IA; parents, John Lee of Creston, Iowa, LaVona Hollander (Jim) of Winterset, Iowa; son, Liam Ray of Ft Dodge,IA; sons-in-law, Tim Simpson and Mark Simpson Jr of Ogden, IA; sisters, Laurie (Jon Trost) Lee of Cromwell, IA, Susie (JC ) Clark of Odessa, MO, Selena (Mike Brown) Lee of Afton, IA; nieces, Bri (Ben) Pullen of Spencer, IA, Heidi Wiley of Des Moines, IA, Heather Brown (David Robb ) of Afton, IA, and Renee Ford of Oskaloosa, IA; nephews, Mike Thomas of Ottumwa, IA, Brandon (Rene)Lee of Surprise, AZ, and Seth (Ashley)Twilligear of Odessa, MO; 6 great nieces and 4 great nephews; an aunt and uncle Dean and Connie Lane of Earlham, IA; and many cousins and extended family and friends. She will be missed greatly by many. 

Preceding her in death are her paternal grandparents, Hod and Velma (Means) Lee; maternal grandparents, Bud and Donna Belle (Sandusky) Lane(Miller); uncles and aunts, Tom Lane, Larry and Donna Filloon, Carniece and Dean Barker, Stella Lane, Beloved cousin Cameron Malone, and great nieces, Raina Lee and Brooklyn Twilligear.

The family will hold a private celebration of life at a later date.