01/05/2019 - Barbara Ruth King Marcy

       A private family service will be held in Omaha for 91-year old former northern Panhandle resident and cattle industry leader Barbara "Barb" Ruth King Marcy with a public celebration of her life to be held next July 20 at the Camp Norwesca Chapel.

        Barbara passed away on December 23 in Lincoln, where she had lived since 2013. Hospice of Lincoln provided invaluable support and ensured she had a compassionate end to a long and full life with her family present.

        Barbara will be cremated and interred next to her husband of 50 years Charles in the Hay Springs cemetery.

      Memorials have been established for the Nebraska Cattlemen's Foundation Scholarship Fund and the Masonic-Eastern Star Nebraska Home for Children in Fremont. Checks may be sent in care of her son Tom at 3950 470th Road, Hay Springs, NE 69347.

       Hemmingsen Funeral Home in Auburn, NE, is in charge of arrangements for Barbara Ruth King Marcy. 

      Barbara was born on April 9, 1927 in Amherst, NE, one of five children and the only daughter of George and Myrtle (Harris) King. She passed December 23, 2018 at Country House III in Lincoln, NE.

       Barbara was introduced to Charles Marcy by her brother —  Charles' fraternity brother — Keith King and his wife Betty. For the rest of their lives Keith and Betty proudly claimed credit for what proved to be an enduring marriage, partnership, and friendship. Barbara and Charles married on January 29, 1955 and were life partners until Charles' death in 2005.

      Barbara graduated from Amherst High School and Kearney State College, then pursued graduate study at the University of Wyoming. She was a schoolteacher in Lyons, Ainsley, Oshkosh, and Chadron before moving to the Marcy ranch near Hay Springs upon her marriage to Charles.

       She greatly valued education and served for several years on the Nebraska Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education. She was proud that all of her children graduated from the University of Nebraska. Her lifelong commitment to learning and appreciation of education extended to both formal pursuits and lessons from "the school of hard knocks."

       Barbara was an active partner in Marcy Brothers Angus (later Marcy Cattle Company), where she managed the books and kept records for the registered Angus herd, as well as helping with outdoor work and raising her children there.

       She was a visible state and national representative of the industry, serving as President of the Nebraska Cow-Belles, Queen of Ak-Sar-Ben and Ak-Sar-Ben Goodwill Ambassador, a member of the Nebraska Beef Council, the Nebraska Cattlemen's Historical Museum.

       Barbara was a founding member with Charles of the Coffee Gallery in the Mari Sandoz High Plains Heritage Center at Chadron State College, and was inducted into the Nebraska Agricultural Hall of Fame.

       She was an active member of the United Methodist Church and Banner Community Club, a Worthy Matron of Eastern Star, and served on the Nebraska Rural Health Advisory Commission. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and helped with 4-H and school events throughout the state.

      Barbara and Charles retired from full time ranching in 1989 and moved to Chadron, where they enjoyed easier access to Fort Robinson State Park, the Black Hills, the many activities at Chadron State College, time with friends and family, and travel until Charles' death in 2005.

      Barbara moved to Lincoln in 2013 and appreciated the friendship and support of the community at Savannah Pines. In 2017, she moved to Country House in Lincoln, a facility that offered her kindness and professionalism through the end of her life. Hospice of Lincoln provided invaluable support and ensured she had a compassionate end to a long and full life, with her family present.

     She remained curious about others' life and work, the development and importance of agriculture, opinionated about politics, an avid reader, and an enthusiastic fan of Cornhusker athletics and Rockies and Royals baseball to the end of her life.

       Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Marcy as well as her brothers Stanley, Keith, Clark and Theodore (Ted).

       She is survived by her five children: Tom Marcy of Hay Springs (Kim), Ruth Gerdes of Auburn (Myron), George Marcy of Fort Collins, CO (Andrea), Sara Andres of Portland, Oregon (Gregg, deceased), and Mary Marcy of San Rafael, California (Jan).

      She is also survived by sister-in-law (and matchmaker) Betty King; and by grandchildren, great-grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends that were very dear to her.

      Committed to service and to learning, Barbara donated her body to the University of Nebraska Medical Center for research.