Barbara Ruth Rees

The funeral liturgy for Mrs. Barbara Ruth Rees will be held on March 6^th at 1 pm at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church, Aiken, SC with Very Reverend Gregory B. Wilson, celebrant.

     Mrs. Rees, 82, of Aiken, South Carolina, died on February 22, 2021. Born in Ventura California, to the late Earl and Blanche Stanley. Barbara lived a resilient life; while she did not suffer fools gladly, she loved deeply those close to her heart. Of her four daughters, three were born with cystic fibrosis. Treatment of cystic fibrosis in the 1960’s was difficult and life expectancies were short.  With the help of Dr. Gunyon M. Harrison, a pioneering pulmonologist, and his team at the Texas Children’s Hospital, Barbara’s girls exceeded all expectations at the time against this deadly disease. As a single mother of four, it was hard both emotionally and physically to help her daughters through continued treatments and keep medical equipment sterilized, all while maintaining a loving household.  She handled all the ups and downs with grace and dignity.

     In 1971, she married the love of her life, William “Bill” Rees, Jr.  Bill was an “oak of a man” and was instrumental in helping raise and care for the girls as if they were his own. They lived a happy life in Stanton, Texas. In the 1980’s, Barbara worked as a manager of a floral-consulting business, all while helping run Bill’s oil field company until his passing in 2001. 

     In 2011, she moved to Aiken South Carolina to be closer to her brother, Gary, and his family. She was a parishioner at St. Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church and believed that the Holy Spirit touched her life in so many ways.  

     Barbara was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, her daughters, Cathy Straub, Beverly (Bevo) & Sherri Merwin, her parents, and brothers Don & Gary.

     She is survived by her daughter Mindy Pierce, grandchildren, Jason Straub, Brian James Pierce and Claire Pierce, her sister-in-law Sharon, and five nieces and nephews Perry (Kelly), Beth, Susie, John and T.J., seven great nieces and nephews, Craig (Ashley), Amber, Lori (David), Austin, Taylor, Lucie, and Lily; and eight great-nieces and nephews, Colton, Maddix, Addison, Townes, Blakely, Elizabeth Reed & Miley.