Obituary of Leanna Kay Barber

Leanna Kay (nee Fullerton) Barber, age 79, slipped peacefully into Jesus' arms January 29, 2023, while visiting family in Florida. Leanna was the second child of Richard and Daisy (Griffith) Fullerton, on July 10, 1943. She was raised in Boone, Iowa, with her siblings, Larry, Linda, and Jody. She married Donald Barber July 16, 1960, and they had four children: Shelley (forever 6), Annette, Daniel, and Deanna. After 35 years of marriage, they divorced. At the young age of 46, she was promoted to Grandma, and doted on Zach, Ashley, JD (Jared), Rob, Joe, Jennifer, Griffin, and Savannah. She loved attending their many school activities and games. She also planned special “Grandma Trips” each year for every grandchild, culminating in a week-long trip when each grandchild turned 12. At age 70, she was promoted again, and became GGma to Charlotte, Liam, Willow, and Tai. Leanna was mostly sweet, a little sassy, sometimes stubborn, and sometimes silly. She had a heart of gold and loved her family dearly. We will miss her “Momisms”, her creative cooking substitutions, and needing us to explain jokes. She lived all her life in central Iowa, growing up in Boone, then living in Ames and Gilbert, and finally, in Ankeny. In addition to being a mother, she worked many years as a bookkeeper in their small business, Barber’s Metal Fabricating. She also worked at The Richmond Center, Northcrest Retirement Community, and Nationwide Insurance. Over the years, she enjoyed traveling, camping, creating scrapbooks, square dancing, reading, jigsaw puzzles, and watching The Hallmark Channel. She made friends at her workplace, in the charitable work she did, and in the social clubs she belonged to, forming lifelong friendships with many people. Leanna volunteered many hours in the community, including various school PTOs, Ames Jaycee-ettes, Mary Greeley Hospitality Shop, Living History Farms, Meals on Wheels, and Altrusa International of Ames. She was an active member and volunteer at Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart in Ankeny and deepened her faith by participating in many Bible study groups over the years. She was preceded in death by her parents, her oldest daughter, Shelley, in 1967; her sister, Linda Miller, in 2009; and her mother-in-law and best friend, Virginia Ullrick, in 2018. She is survived by her brother Larry Fullerton (Linda), sister Jody Fullerton-Rickard, and brother-in-law Bob Miller; her children: Annette Jensen (Steve), Daniel Barber (Jessika), and Deanna Sargent (Matt); her grandchildren: Zach Barber (Heather), Ashley Murphy (Sean), JD Jensen (Lydia), Robert Jensen (Taylor Morfey), Joe Barber, Jennifer Hoover (Dallas), Griffin Sargent (Paige Apland), and Savannah Sargent; and her great-grandchildren: Charlotte Murphy, Liam Murphy, Willow Jensen Morfey, and Tai Jensen Morfey. Kersey Funeral Home in Auburndale, FL, and Ankeny Funeral Home, in Ankeny, Iowa are assisting with arrangements. Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart Catholic Church, 510 East 1^st Street, in Ankeny will host a Visitation & Vigil on Friday, February 10^th from 5:00 until 8:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 am, Saturday, February 11th at the church (luncheon following the mass). An inurnment will be held in July 2023 at the Story Memorial Gardens in Ames. Donations in her memory may be made to either: Mainstream Living, 2012 East 13^th Street, Ames, Iowa 50010 OR the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Avenue, Dallas, Texas 75231. His Lord said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things. I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.” Matthew 25:23