Travis Lee Barr was born May 3, 1974 in Mexico Missouri, completing the TBarr-3, destined to rule their Paris and Centralia neighborhoods first by bike, then an El Camino and a ’78 Oldsmobile Cutless. Growing up with his brothers, Todd Barr (Karla) of Hannibal and Tim Barr of Paris, Travis never knew a stranger and had more honorary grandparents, aunts, uncles, mother and father figures than any young boy with a sweet tooth could dream of, and over the years he became the son of many a home even if not of their blood.
A perfect example of love, loyalty and friendship, these boys grew up in unique families. In Paris, with their mother, Doris Mitchell, they welcomed a younger sister, Karrie Mitchell Freeman (Katie) now of Minneapolis, Minnesota and younger brother, Chad Mitchell, currently of Paris. In Centralia, Todd, Tim and Travis joined their father, Larry Barr (who is welcoming Travis to heaven as we speak) who brought his wife, Susie Barr now of Columbia, Missouri, and her two daughters, Marcy Wood (Ned) of Ashland and Mandy Alexander, now of Columbia, Missouri.
After graduating from Paris High School in 1992, Travis started his college career on a full ROTC scholarship and transitioned to working on athletics staffs for KU baseball, Truman State Football and finally as an equipment manager for Mizzou Tiger football under Coach Larry Smith. He graduation with a BS Business from MU in 1997, immediately accepting a sales position at Mid-Am Building Supply in Moberly, Missouri. He had always been a salesman at heart, down to selling the most Monroe County Appeals as a young boy, and he succeeded in sales positions for the rest of his life. But it was at that first job at Mid-Am that he met his future life partner, Jenny (Foster) and a few short months later made her his wife for the next 24 years.
A deacon of First Baptist Church of Centralia, his unwavering love and Christian example helped mold two strong, healthy children from their union, Mariah Barr of Olathe, Kansas and Mason Barr of Centralia. They were his pride, joy and legacy and they’ll never forget his love of family, Mizzou football, Cardinal baseball and the sound of the ocean waves on a beach.
Travis had the ultimate sweet-tooth and a fun loving nature that made him a favorite uncle to Kelsey Schafer (Brett) of Barry, Illinois; Kayley Bailey (Josh) of Quincy, Illinois; Kensey Thompson (Spencer) of Quincy, Illinois; Lindsey Welch (Brian) of Hannibal, Missouri; Taylor Barr (Ciara) of Glasgow, Missouri; Whitnie Barr of Paris, Missouri; Trevor Belt of Olathe, Kansas; Tyler Belt (Whitney) of Hawaii; Brandon Wood of Ashland, Missouri; Carter Wood of Columbia, Missouri; Blake Wyatt (Breanna) of Columbia, Missouri; Brooke Wyatt of Columbia, Missouri; and Grayson Mitchell Freeman of Minneapolis, Minnesota. During his illness, Travis cherished the artwork gifted from his numerous great-nieces and nephews and cousins who loved to visit “Uncle Twabis”.
He touched the lives and hearts of so many over his lifetime and stayed true to them all across the country. Most importantly he valued and loved the extended family that took him under their wings when they needed each other the most. His many aunts and uncles including Gerald and Carole Roberts, his maternal grandparents, JB and Gloretta Jones of Paris and Cletus and Betty Hudson of Thompson, and especially, his paternal grandparents, Beulah and OK Kendall, also of Paris. The family, left here to find their way without him, is finding great comfort in knowing that they are all welcoming him to heaven, and celebrating the life that Travis created, the Godly example of forgiveness and redemption he showed and the legacy he left behind.
Travis passed away to his Heavenly Father on Thursday, September 6, 2023 at Boone Hospital Center after a year long battle with appendiceal cancer. Please join us to celebrate Travis’s life and to comfort each other in our grief at a visitation to be held from 2:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 10, 2023 at the First Baptist Church in Centralia, Missouri. Funeral services will then be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 11, 2023 at the Agnew Funeral Home in Paris, Missouri with burial in Walnut Grove Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Centralia or to the Travis Barr Legacy fund, a scholarship fund for his children, Mariah and Mason Barr.
