Barbara Louise (Meads) Bay

Barbara Louise (Meads) Bay, 74, of Kalamazoo passed away peacefully on October 11th, 2022.
Barbara was born on January 27, 1948 to Jimmie L Meads and Ruth I Meads (Tipton) in Joplin, Missouri.  Barbara was raised in Flushing, Michigan along the Flint River.  Barbara was the middle child.  She had an older brother, Michael, and a younger sister Deborah.  She always spoke fondly of their fabulous garden and farm. Barbara graduated from Flushing High School in 1966. Barbara always had a passion for doing hair.  She would do her classmates hair for fun. Barbara went on to attend Cosmetology school obtaining a license to do hair.
In 1968 Barbara met her future husband, Bradley Bay, the day he returned home from his 2 years of service in Germany during the Vietnam War.  Two years later, Barbara, age 22, would marry Bradley, age 26, on July 11, 1970 in Flint.  Bradley and Barbara moved to the Kalamazoo area for work and made a life there.  Barbara first worked at Gilmores department store in downtown Kalamazoo styling hair. Barbara purchased her own salon and ran her business, Hair Graphics, for over forty years.  She continued to work four days a week until she sold the salon about 10 years ago.  However, she continued to work there until her retirement at age 70.  She truly loved and enjoy her craft.
Barbara had two children, Nicole in 1975 and Craig in 1978.  Barb and Brad lived a fairy tale lifestyle and were always very much in love.  They enjoyed traveling, sailing around Lake Michigan in their sailboat.  Barbara was a very fun person.  She even rode dirt-bikes with Brad.  She could drive a stick shift like nobody’s business and loved her Nissan 350Z.  She also was a lover of dogs.  She had many various breeds and rescues throughout the years.
Barbara loved to cook homemade meals and bake delicious pies for her friends and family.  Barbara’s greatest joys in the last 16 years has been playing a huge role in the upbringing of her cherished grandchildren.  She would work 3 days a week and watch her daughters 2 children on one day and then her son’s child on another before they were school age.  They were all born within 2 years apart and kept her very busy.
Barbara was an exceptional Grandmother and Mother.  Barb could cook, clean, do laundry, watch 2 small children and have dinner waiting when her daughter got home from work.  She read and played with her Grandchildren and would take them over the weekend to give their parents a break.  There was no greater joy to Barbara than her family.  When she wasn’t taking care of family, she was always doing crossword puzzles with her son, painting rooms in her home and taking on various different projects around the house.  She was a hard worker who always had a spotless home.
Barbara was a kind hearted, funny person.  She was a ray of sunshine with a warm heart.  She was very laid back and easy going.  She was the best Mother anyone could ever ask for.  She was incredibly nurturing and loving.  She leaves behind big shoes to fill as a Mother & Grandmother.
Barbara is preceded in death by her husband Bradley, her sister Deborah, her brother Michael and her parents Jimmie and Ruth.
She is survived by her children, Nicole (Tony) Charron & Craig Bay; her grandchildren, Edward Charron, Eva Charron, & Ethan Bay.  She also leaves behind her nieces (Amber, Ashley, Angela) and her nephew (Brandon).
A private internment will take place where her cremains shall be buried with the love of her life Bradley, at Fort Custer Cemetery on October 20, 2022 at 2:00 p.m.  A Celebration of Life for family and friends will be held at Oakwood Bistro, 3003 Oakland Drive, Kalamazoo, Thursday, October 20, 2022 from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.