Ruby Loraine (Haffer) Barman

Ruby Loraine Barman, age 87, passed away on Monday, April 15, 2019 at St. Mary’s Hospital in St. Louis. She was born March 16, 1932 in Steelville to William and Ida Haffer.  After graduating from Steelville High School, Ruby spent most of her working life in downtown St. Louis working in banking. She was a devoted woman of faith and a long-time member of Maplewood Baptist Church.

Ruby had many interests. She was an avid reader and enjoyed watching sports on television, especially Cardinals baseball, figure skating competitions and the Olympics. She enjoyed collecting family photographs on her home computer and assembling albums for her loved ones. In the ‘90s she developed a fondness for traveling, something she regretted not doing earlier in life. She made up for the late start with two trips to Europe, a trip to South Korea, a cruise to Alaska and two vacations in Hawai’i. As news of her passing spread, condolences and prayers were received from as far away as Paris and Seoul. Many of her favorite stories to tell were of her experiences while traveling with her husband, sons and grandchildren. Ruby was born into a large family and family was the most important thing in her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Ida Haffer, one daughter, Janice Carol Gowers, two sons, Eugene Gowers and Gary Gowers and one great-great granddaughter, Angel Gowers. She is survived by her husband, William Barman, of St. Louis, her son, David Gowers and his wife, Cielo Masado-Gowers, of Sacramento, California, as well as four grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren, two great-great grandchildren, siblings, nieces and nephews, cousins and many friends.

The Family received friends from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, 2019 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO.

Funeral services for Ruby were held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 19, 2019 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home, 110 Cedar Street, Steelville, MO with Bill Gowers officiating. Special music of "Wayfaring Stranger" was sung by Norma Thomas. Other music of "Amazing Grace", "Where We will never grow old" and "I'll fly away" was played.

Interment was in the Haffer Family Cemetery outside Steelville, MO.

Honored to be casket bearers were William Gowers, Gary Gowers, Jason Gowers, Maceon Griefe, Bud Haffer and Ethan Gowers.

The Family was served by the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home of Steelville, MO.

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