On October 6th, Barbara died peacefully in her sleep, her children at her side. She was born in Walnut Grove, Missouri on August 3, 1926. Her parents, Coy and Pearl Hobbs, sisters Bonnie Underwood, Peggy Blakemore, Sandy Kelley, daughter Sue Griesemer and grandson William Crain II preceded her in death. After graduating from WGHS in 1943, Barbara volunteered at the O'Reilly Hospital. She took wounded vets to Oak Grove Church and brought them home for Sunday dinner. She traveled with her sister Bonnie to work at the Boeing factory in Wichita. They were real-life Rosie the Riveters and she even gave an interview for television! "It was very exciting for a farm girl who knew nothing about the big city." Upon returning to Walnut Grove, she was asked to teach at Scrougout School before it consolidated with WGHS. She gained her certification that summer and began teaching that fall. She married USMC Vet James Cunningham in 1946. Once the school year ended, they followed work to California, back to Missouri, over to Chicago and finally made their home in Springfield. They had 9 children, "Eight daughters and each one has a brother," 20 grandchildren and 4 granddaughters, all "special" and 21 great-grandchildren who called her "Granny Great." Barbara had many careers. She was a church secretary, she sold Tupperware, Sarah Coventry Jewelry and other party based items. She went on to cook at First Baptist Church, Pappy's Place and she retired from Cox Hospital in 1992. She had weekly yard sales, operated booths at flea markets, collected antiques and over 3000 dolls. She would say with a smile that, "She loved her babies because they didn't make messes... and they didn't talk back." After she sold her Springfield home, she returned to Walnut Grove where she spent her days playing cards with her sisters and with her friends at the Sunshine Center. The last 9 years were spent at the Ash Grove Care Center where she was known and loved as a jewelry maker. Barbara was a member of the Walnut Grove 1st Church. She is survived by daughters: Sherry and Bill Crain, Jan and Jerry Perkins, Marcia Langley, Cynthia McNiel, Tracy Giles, Teresa Cunningham, Tonya Cunningham and Kim Young, and son Jimmy Cunningham. She loved hearing from her grandkids: Ashley Crain, Tatum Isenberger, Robbie, Andrea and Joey Murphy, Beau Langley, Shane and Adam Griesemer, Stephanie Restemayer, Charlie and Blue McNiel, Richard Cunningham, Jarrod Wells, Chris Wilkerson, Shawn Cunningham, Jeremy, Nicholas, August and Eli Cummingham. Visitation is 6 to 8 Friday and Funeral is 11:00 Saturday at Wilson Brim Daniel Funeral Home in Walnut Grove.