Barbara Bliss Seibel

Barbara Bliss Seibel, who was a founding member of one of the area's largest churches, taught school for 25 years in the Shawnee Mission school district and raised four children who gave her 10 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren, died Wednesday, Aug. 23, in Overland Park. She was 95 years old.

Devoted to her family, Mrs. Seibel was happiest throughout her years when she was surrounded by her children and their progeny; she liked nothing better than when all of them converged on the family home in Overland Park, joined by their aunts, uncles, and cousins, for hours of chaotic backyard games and dining.

Mrs. Seibel was born in Kansas City, Mo., on June 18, 1922, to the late Jean (Lyle) and Omar M. Bliss. She married Louis B. Seibel at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Kansas City, Mo., on May 22, 1943,  and like so many war brides, had her first child in 1946 after her husband returned from combat in Europe.

She received bachelors and masters degrees from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, but didn't learn to drive until the 1960s, when she began teaching Spanish fulltime at Shawnee Mission East High School. She transferred to Shawnee Mission South when that school opened in 1966, where she led the Spanish department and served as a facilitator for the school's gifted program. She retired from South in 1987.

Mrs. Seibel was active in the Episcopal Church throughout her adult life.  She and her husband were the first to sign the petition that led to the creation of Christ Church, now located at 91st and Nall, by the Diocese of Kansas.  She served on the church's altar guild for more than 15 years, taught Sunday school and was a Cub Scout Den Mother, a Girl Scout leader, and a DeMolay Mom.

She was also active in a variety of cultural and masonic organizations. She was a regent of the Shawnee Mission Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and a member of the Hilton Chapter of the Daughters of American Colonists. She was Worthy Matron of Adda Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star, and belonged to a variety of other organizations, including the Mayflower Society, the PEO, Phi Mu Sorority and the Kansas Education Association.

She was preceded in death by her husband in February 2001.

She leaves behind her four children and their spouses -   Louis Seibel and Marie, of Olathe, Carol Blythe and Mike, of Haymarket, Va., Mark Seibel and Sally Francis, of Washington, D.C., and Charles Seibel and Melinda, of Oklahoma City - as well as 10 grandchildren and 18 great grandchildren, many of whom gathered with her June 18, with nieces, nephews and cousins, at Sunrise of Overland Park to mark her 95th birthday.

A visitation will be held from 6-8 PM on Friday, Sept. 1, at the Amos Funeral Home, 10901 Johnson Dr. in Shawnee, Kansas. Graveside services will be held on Sept. 2 at 2:00 PM at Johnson County Memorial Gardens, 11200 Metcalf in Overland Park, with internment to follow.

Memorials should be sent to Christ Church Anglican, 5500 W. 91st Street, Overland Park, 66207, or any charity of your choice.