BARBARA H. MCDOUGAL

Barbara H. McDougal, age 82, of Belton, Missouri passed away on September 11, 2025, at Belton Regional Medical Center surrounded by her loving family.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 27, 2025, at Lord of Love Lutheran Church 8306 E 171st St., Belton, Missouri 64012. Visitation will be from 10-11 am followed by the services at 11 am. For those unable to attend, a Zoom meeting will be provided for those to attend virtually. To gain access to that information please contact the church at (816) 331-5465.

Barb was born in Wichita, Kansas on December 30, 1942, the daughter of Ramon L. and Gwendolyn (Biggs) Charles. She attended several schools as her family moved frequently.  She was honored to be a part of history as the Topeka, Kansas schools desegregated in the 1950s.  After graduating from Seaman High School in Topeka, she went on to earn a degree at K-State in Home Economics/Journalism. Barb married her high school sweetheart, David E. McDougal on August 6, 1965. Together they were blessed with three daughters, Heather, Holly, and Heidi. In life Barb's vocation was motherhood, also working in school food service, libraries, and various volunteer positions.

The volunteer job which touched her heart the most was helping with the Go-Zones after school program, which was part of their church in Wichita.  They helped children in the nearby neighborhood, several of whom came from immigrant families. She was especially touched when many of those children came to her daughter Holly's funeral.

She loved being a wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and big sister. She happily babysat her grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. She always felt books were important and entertained them all by making different sounds and voices as she read to them. She also instilled a love of reading in all of her daughters.

Barb was a collector. She enjoyed coffee mugs, antique telephone insulators, and items with sunflowers.

Music was an integral part of Barb and Dave's life together. They went to numerous concerts together and collected albums, CDs, and books from their favorite artists.  Barb never tired of hearing Dave play his banjo.

Barb was preceded in death by her parents, Ramon and Gwendolyn Charles; and her daughter, Holly McDougal.

She is survived by her loving husband of 60 years, Dave McDougal; two daughters, Heidi Rater (Mark) and Heather Sooley (John); sister, Charlotte Pfefer (David); sister in-law, Jean Ramsey; five grandchildren, Richie Sooley (Caitlin), Davey Sooley, Eli Rater, Laura Rater (fiancée, Travis Ellenwood), and Mark Rater. And many nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Lord of Love Lutheran Church.

Arrangements: Cullen Funeral Home, Inc., Raymore, Missouri 816.322.5278