William "Finis" Barr

William “Finis” Barr of High Ridge, Missouri, formerly of Steelville, Missouri went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, September 30, 2020 in his daughter’s home at the age of 85 years, 3 months and 12 days. He was born June 18, 1935 in Davisville, Missouri to Finis “Ed” Barr and Alice Turnbough Barr in 1955, he was united in marriage to Wilma Bell and to this union two daughters were born. He later married Diane Greenwell in August of 1992.

Finis devoted his entire life to singing the gospel in song. He believed Christians were to worship, praise and serve GOD. At a young age, he knew God wanted him to do this through gospel music. At 12 years old he played and sang with the Lester Family and Gospel String Band. At age 15, he joined his first male quartet, The Happy Rhythm Boys. At 18 Finis attended the Stamps Quartet School of Music in Dallas, TX. It was here he became friends with gospel music legend Bill Gaither. Together they organized the Five State Quartet which won top honors. After returning from the school his lifelong friend, Ralph Green, recommended him to Barney Barrow and the Victory Quartet. This association with the Victory Quartet would last over 20 years. Finis would organize and manage The Believer’s of St. Louis in March 1975.

Finis had attended the Freewill Baptist Bible College in Nashville, Tennessee. After leaving Nashville, he and his family eventually moved to Hazel Park, MI where Finis worked with the youth in Christian Education at the Hazel Park Freewill Baptist Church for four years.

Finis retired from Chrysler Corporation in 1991 after twenty-four plus years there. After retirement he moved to Steelville and eventually sang with several groups. Throughout the years, he sang with over sixteen different groups and numerous people. Today Finis is singing in the “Heavenly Choir.”

He was attending Calvary Fellowship Freewill Baptist in Fenton the last few years. While in Steelville, he attended Steelville Assembly of God Church for over twenty-five years.

Finis enjoyed all of the special times with his children throughout the years and especially camping. He had many special memories with all of his family and dearly loved those times.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ed and Alice Barr; sisters, infant Bonnie Louise Barr, Erma Lee (Jesse) Hogan, and Georgia Marie (Rev. Robert) Hill; and one brother, Ronald Edward Barr.

He will be missed by his wife of twenty-eight years, Diane Barr of High Ridge, MO; two daughters, Christi (Lonnie) Morrison of High Ridge, MO and Vicki (Steve) Amlong of Fairdealing, MO; four grandsons, Eli (Ashley) Peterson and Nathan (Jordan) Peterson, Matthew Morrison and Christopher (Jamie) Morrison; three great-granddaughters, Kendall, Sayler and Audrey Peterson; three great-grandsons, Jacob and Weston Morrison and Gatlin Peterson; one brother, Tom (Patty) Barr of Kelso, MO; three sisters, Janet (Lindell) Wood of Union, MO, Doris (Rev. John) Gibbs and Marilyn (Rev. Donald) Dungan all of TN; sister-in-law, Joan Barr of GA;  many nieces and nephews; other relatives; and many friends.

Please observe social distancing of six feet when attending the visitation and/or funeral. You may consider wearing a mask at that time and we do have masks available.  We thank you for your patience, respect and understanding for the Family and yourselves.

The Family received friends from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2020 at the Britton-Bennett Funeral Home in Steelville, MO.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 4, 2020 with Pastor Jerry Beers officiating and Rev. Kenny Simpson reading the obituary and sharing memories. Special memories were shared by his grandson, Matthew Morrison and quartet memories were shared by Ron Scott. Music of "I'll Fly Away" and "What a Day that Will Be" was sung by the congregation. Special recorded music of "This is Just What Heaven Means to Me", "Beulah Land", "While the Ages Roll" and "What Will I Leave Behind" sung by Finis was played. Music of "Family of God" was sung by nieces and nephews, Chris Dungan, Dan and Sherry Camp and Deb Scott and Ron Scott accompanying on piano.

Committal prayer and interment were in the Czar Cemetery, Viburnum, MO.

Honored to be casket bearers were Tom Barr, Lonnie Morrison, Steve Amlong, Donnie Dungan, Eli Peterson and Nathan Peterson with Matthew Morrison serving as honorary.

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

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