Marcia Rae (White) Barber, 47, left this world to find the answers to all of life's big questions on November 2, 2023. Per her wishes, she left for her last ride dressed in her favorite equestrian riding gear.

Marcia was born February 4, 1976, in Merriam, Kansas, to Andrew N. and Janice (Campbell) White.  She grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, and graduated from Shawnee Mission East High School in 1994. She attended St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota, where she was active in many musical ensembles. Marcia studied abroad in Montpelier, France, at Université Paul-Valéry. She graduated from St. Olaf in 1998 with a Major in French, along with Minors in Math and Creative Writing. Marcia obtained an MBA with an emphasis in International Business from Kansas University in 2004. Her career path visited a variety of technology and telecommunications companies, ending with her tenure at Cisco, where in 2020, she was named a Director.

Marcia married the love of her life, Scott E. Barber, on May 26, 2001. They are the proud parents of two sons, Liam Jasper (14) and Miles Declan (12). Along with cherishing and caring for her family, she maintained a wide variety of interests and hobbies. She was a lifelong dancer, an avid lover of horses and all things equestrian, an accomplished singer and cellist, a prolific writer, an amazing chef, an enthusiastic Francophile, an accomplished world traveler, and a beloved instigator of shenanigans of all kinds.

With a heart for service and helping others, Marcia was proud to be involved in and support many service organizations. After playing in the Kansas City Civic Orchestra for many years, Marcia joined the board in 2011. In 2013, she began serving as the President of the Board of Directors, a position she held for five years. During her term, KCCO performed in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts for the first time. KCCO's Outreach Program also benefitted from Marcia's inspiration and efforts. Her dedication to improving accessibility for KCCO's high quality, free concerts of fantastic classical music resulted in an annual concert that bears her family's name: The Barber Family Concert Day, complete with the Instrument Zoo and an abbreviated matinee concert.

Marcia embodied the spirit of the phrase "Friend to All, Stranger to None." Hundreds of people who loved Marcia and her family have helped in myriad ways during her battle against ALS. She seemed to effortlessly create a community of caring, devoted friends who loved her dearly, and those friends are now helping each other with their grief.

Marcia's legacy now lives on in her husband, Scott Barber; her mother, Janice (Campbell) White; her sons, Liam and Miles; her brother, Michael A. White, and wife, Stephanie; her sister-in-law, Amy (Barber) Boydston, and husband, Eric; her cousins, Dr. Laura and Jillian Campbell, and Shane and Dr. Shawn Zembles; her nieces, Kate and Abby Boydston; and nephews, Paul and Nicholas White. Many other extended family members among the Barber, White, and Campbell families share a lifetime of memories of her lighting up the room and making occasions unforgettable. She was preceded in death by her father, Andrew N. White.

The family plans to hold a memorial celebration in the new year. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kansas City Civic Orchestra, kccivic.org , or Heartland Therapeutic Riding of Overland Park, KS, htrkc.org .