Barbara “Barb” Mae Strait, 84, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away peacefully from Alzheimer’s with complications due to COVID-19 on Saturday, December 26, 2020, at Northbrook Manor in Cedar Rapids. A Funeral Service will be held at 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 30, 2020, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service in Marion, Iowa, where the family will greet friends for one hour prior to the service. Pastor John Albertson will officiate. Burial will follow at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery in Cedar Rapids. All guests are respectfully requested to wear a face mask and practice social distancing.
Barb was born on January 7, 1936, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Aaron and Hazel (Cline) McNabb. She was a graduate of the former Franklin High School in Cedar Rapids. On June 10, 1956, Barb was united in marriage to Gerald Edward Strait. To this union, two children were born. Barb worked for several years as a secretary at Temple Judah in Cedar Rapids, retiring in 1972. She enjoyed camping and was a member of Good Sam’s Camping Club. Most of all, Barb loved spending time with her family. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Barb is survived and lovingly remembered by her family, two daughters, Penny Driscoll and Ted Ealy of Cedar Rapids and Kelly Strait and Lesley Fleer of Robins, Iowa; four grandchildren, Jessica McVicker and her husband, Adam of Cedar Rapids, Erica Pecinovsky and her husband, Joseph of Coggon, Iowa, Aryn Driscoll and her wife, Jaime of Alamogordo, New Mexico, and Marcelle Strait of Robins, Iowa; six grandchildren, Patrick, Rylie, Nolan, Harper Mae, Jackson, and Kellan; and her life-long best friend, Eleanor Burke of Swisher, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Aaron and Hazel McNabb; husband of nearly 59 years, Gerald Strait; one brother, Joseph McNabb; and one sister, Elaine Neblung.
In lieu of flowers, the family has respectfully requested that any memorials in Barb’s memory be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at 1730 28th Street in West Des Moines, Iowa, 50266.