Marian Barrans

A graveside celebration of life service for Marian Barrans, 90, of Lenox, who passed away Monday, August 3, 2020, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 7, 2020, at the West Fairview Cemetery in Lenox. Open visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, August 6, 2020, at Ritchie Funeral Home. Due to Covid-19, we request visits are made brief, and social distancing practiced at all locations. Memorials may be given in Marian's name. Memories may be shared with the family at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com under Obituaries. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox.

Frances Marian (Thomas) Barrans was born March 2, 1930, at her family home in Gallatin, Missouri, to Robert Hiriam and Anna (Cohrs) Thomas. Marian is the oldest out of three children. Her sister Lillian was born in 1931, followed by Robert in 1937.

At age five, her family moved from Missouri to a farm near Conway, where Marian started country school until the third grade.  The family then moved several times until they settled on J20 near Bushville.  She continued country school in Corning. She graduated from Corning High School in 1948.  Marian had known from an early age that she wanted to be a teacher, often playing school with her siblings and always being the teacher.

During high school, she was able to take a course called “normal training” for two years. She taught in a one-room school house for nine years, located west of Bushville, where she taught kindergarten through 8th grade.

In 1956 she met the love of her life, William (Bill) Barrans, at a dance in Clarinda, while he was on leave from the U.S. Army. With having plans to get married, she quit teaching and started working as the bookkeeper for Bill’s parents at George Barrans and Son. They were married Feb. 16, 1958. She continued to work until 1959, when the two welcomed their first son Mark. Son Chris followed in 1961 and daughter Linda in 1964.

In 1969 Bill and Marian purchased the feed store and it became Barrans Farm Supply. Marian continued to be a stay at home mom but helped at the store whenever needed, especially in the fall. For most of their married life Bill and Marian lived where Marian currently resided.

Marian loved her family, the outdoors, mowing, gardening and raising flowers. She also enjoyed baking and visiting with friends. Marian was a member of two women’s card clubs, Methodist Circle, the Lenox Auxiliary and had served on the Lenox Library board.

Left to cherish her memory are sons, Mark (Becky) Barrans, Chris (Jean) Barrans; daughter Linda (Chris) Christensen; grandchildren: Reagan (Ernest) Phillips, Alex (Melissa) Barrans, Jamie Barrans, Nicki (Chris) Lock, Jeremy (BreeAnn) Barrans, Maggie (Tyler) Peterson, Austin (Paige) Christensen and Bethany Christensen; great-grandchildren: Will, Dane and Nick Butler, Cora and Quinn Lock, Jarett and Kai Barrans, Graham, Miles and Maura Peterson; sister Lillian; sister-in-law Wilma Hughes; many nieces, nephews and friends.

Preceding her in death are her husband Bill, her parents Hiriam and Anna Thomas, her in-laws George and Edra Barrans, brother Robert Thomas, brothers-in-law Harold Leonard and Glen Hughes, nephew Randall Leonard.

We will forever hold Marion’s precious memory in our hearts.

May she be at peace in God’s loving care.