Barbara Kinsey

Barbara Kay Kinsey, 72, of Cape Girardeau, Mo., went to be with Jesus Wednesday, May 28, 2025, surrounded by family after a four-year battle with MDS (bone marrow cancer). Barb was born Nov. 11, 1952, to Duane Kinsey and V. Marilyn Powell Kinsey in Centralia, Ill. The family moved to McClure, Ill, in 1954 where she grew up on the family farm and then graduated from Shawnee High School in 1970. She then graduated from Metro Business College. Barb was the most positive person, always filled with joy and never complained. Although she was not a morning person, she truly enjoyed a beautiful sunset, the moon rising, a clear night sky and a good thunderstorm. She also had a keen sense of grammar and had an eye for misspelled words. In her youth, she had long dark hair, played Three Dog Night too loud and cruised Broadway in her powder blue Volkswagon Beetle with Cragar Mag wheels. Now that was groovy! As an adult, Barb enjoyed country line dancing and attending Southern Gospel concerts. She was a veracious reader, attending numerous Bible study groups, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. Many people knew Barb through her cake decorating business, where she created beautiful cakes for all occasions for more than 48 years. But most knew her from her 50-year career at her beloved Southeast Missouri State University. Barb spent her career in University Relations, Sports Information, the News Bureau and the Athletic Department. She performed countless duties including typing basketball play-by-play to working Booster and Redhawk Club hospitality rooms, golf tournaments, barbecues and many other events. Barb was a member of Centenary Methodist Church, being deeply grounded in her faith. Most important, she loved her Lord and Savior more than anything, and she desired for everyone she knew to have a personal relationship with Jesus. One of her cherished post-retirement trips was to the Holy Land and Israel. She truly was a disciple for Christ in all she did. Barb is survived by five siblings, Pat (the late Doyle) Baldwin of McClure, Ill., Linda (Wynn) Bollinger and Wesley (Ann) Kinsey of Cape Girardeau, David (Fran) Kinsey of Thompsonville, Ill., and Susan (Scott) McClanahan of Cape Girardeau; nieces and nephews, Laura (Craig) Hutson of Jackson, Mo., Sarah Zeller of Marion, Ill., Tarah (Steve) Battaglia of Royalton, Ill., Christa (William) Zickfield of Cape Girardeau, Nathaniel (Ariel) Kinsey of Midlothian, Va., Ross (Anna) McClanahan and Truman (Mikayla) Kinsey, both of Columbia, Mo., Annie (Ben) Briscoe of Johnston City, Ill., and Lexie McClanahan of Denver, Colo.; and 10 great-nieces and great-nephews, Olivia, Leighton, Marlie, Hadley, Gunnar, Charlie, Maverick, Emersyn, Nolan and Ella. Barb deeply loved her nieces and nephews, and they truly meant the world to her. The entire Kinsey family expresses its abundant gratitude to all of the employees and volunteers at the Southeast Mercy Cancer Infusion Center for treating Barb with compassion and genuine love and concern. Barb would be thrilled if those who attend services would sport their Southeast Redhawk swag. Visitation will be 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at Centenary Global Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. Funeral services will be at 10:30 am Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at Centenary Global Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau with the Carl Palmer officiating. Burial will be at Lindsey Cemetery in McClure, IL. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of memorial contributions to Lindsey Cemetery at 34422 Grapevine Trail, McClure, Ill., 62957; by donating blood, as Barb received countless units of blood products over the past couple of years; or by donating to the Redhawk Club at Southeast Missouri State University at SEMO Athletics, One University Plaza, MS 0200, Cape Girardeau, Mo., 63701, in memory of Barb Kinsey. Ford & Sons Funeral Home - Mt. Auburn is in charge of arrangements.

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Barbara Kinsey

November 11, 1952 - May 28, 2025