Barbara Weeks

BARBARA LEE WEERS WEEKS Cedar Rapids Barbara Lee Weers Weeks passed away peacefully Oct. 1, 2015, after a long and wonderful life. She had just celebrated her 95th birthday the day before, surrounded by many family members and friends. She was born in Peoria, Ill., on her father's birthday. She was the first of three daughters born to Lealand and Edna Weers. Her father died in his early 30s, but her mother lived to be 95 years old. After Barbara graduated from Peoria High School, she attended MacMurray College for Women in Jacksonville, Ill. She went on to George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where she received her B.A. Upon graduation, she married R. Ray Weeks, who had been in French class in high school. Ray was in the Navy during the war so they made their home in D.C. Barbara worked for the War Department in personnel for the Office of the Chief of Army Chaplains until their son, Paul, was born. After VJ day, they moved to Madison, Wis., where Ray finished obtaining his electrical engineering degree from the University of Wisconsin. Then they moved to Cedar Rapids, where son Peter and daughter Nancy were born. After living in Dallas, Texas, and 27 years on Long Island's North Shore, they decided to retire in Cedar Rapids. They had loved living there because of their many friends, the cultural opportunities the area offers, and the excellent health care facilities. Barbara's husband, Ray; son, Paul; sister, Theodora; and American Field Service son, Tariq Abbas, preceded her in death. She is survived by her son, Peter, his wife, Michele, and daughter, Jennie, of Lavallette, N.J.; her daughter, Nancy Payne, and her husband, Bruce, of Kankakee, Ill., and their sons, Cott (Jennifer), Tyler (Katina), Scott, Brian (Colleen) and Derek (Lauren); Paul's wife, Pamela, of Arlington, Va., and their daughter, Catherine (Geoff); and 11 great-grandchildren. She also is survived by brother-in-law, Gaylord E. Nichols of Pasadena, Calif.; sister Margaret Ann Raper (Charles) of Atlanta, Ga.; brother-in-law, James M. Taylor of Monterrey, Calif.; and many very special nieces and nephews. Barbara was a member of Marvin Cone Art Club, Ladies Literary Club of Cedar Rapids, Monday League, Kappa Kappa Gamma fraternity and the Cedar Rapids Country Club. Her volunteer activities were Rock and Read ? second grade at Erskine School, Docent 5 Turner Alley ? Cedar Rapids Museum of Art, past board member of Friends of the Cedar Rapids Public Library, past board member of Art in Public Places, past president of Cedar Rapids Symphony Guild, and most recently, a volunteer at the Community Health Free Clinic. Contributions may be made to any of these organizations in her name. There will be a memorial service for Barbara in the Chapel at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., where she will be buried with her husband, Ray, and near their son, Paul, and Ray's parents, Paul and Inez Weeks. A celebration of life will be scheduled in November in Cedar Rapids. Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.