Barney Ruth Ferrier Barney Ruth Ferrier, 91, of Emporia, Kan., formerly of Kenyon Square in Emporia, died on May 2, 2011, at the Presbyterian Manor in Emporia The funeral services will be t 10 a.m., Saturday, May 7, at the Chaney-Reager Funeral Home in Sterling, with family receiving friends Friday night from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery in Sterling.

Barney Ruth was the only child of John B. and Nannie Elizabeth (Harrison) Gibson. She was born Feb. 26, 1920, in Winnsboro, Texas.

At the age of 16, she began giving piano lessons, often riding a bus to the neighboring town to teach students. She attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, for one year.

Barney was one of the first to become a member of the USO in Dallas, Texas. It was while working with the USO she met her soon-to-be husband. She married Ira R. Ferrier on Dec. 3, 1945, in Dallas, Texas, and then traveled to Idaho to meet his family.

They settled in Denver, where they were both employed until Ira became part owner of a welding shop in Flagler. She became the typical stay-at-home mother and was involved in civic, school, and church activities, the Order of the Eastern Star, and also gave piano lessons.

In 1959 the family moved to Sterling, where Barney lived for the next 42 years. She was involved in women`s groups, bridge clubs, a book review club, the Order of Eastern Star, gave piano lessons and was the church organist for several years. In 1961 she graduated with an associate`s degree in accounting from Northeastern Junior College in Sterling. Her name is part of the plaque honoring the high scholar of each year. She put her degree to use as a bookkeeper for Cable Drilling Company from which she retired in 1984.

Barney enjoyed traveling with her husband and later went on several cruises with friends. She moved to Emporia in 2011 and was active in the bridge group at the Emporia Senior Center and was a member of the Newman Hospital Auxiliary.

She is survived by one son, Jim Ferrier of Wickenburg, Ariz.; and a daughter, Ruth Gutierrez and husband Paul Jr. of Emporia; grandchildren, Paul Gutierrez II of Lenexa, Kan., Michael Gutierrez of Wichita, Kan., Michele LaFave of Reading, Kan., Stephen Gutierrez of Colwich, Kan., and Lisa Gutierrez of Emporia; and seven great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents; and husband, Ira who died on May 31, 1989, in Sterling.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Plains in Sterling, or to the charity of the donor`s choice.