Barbara Ann Maier

Barb Maier died on May 9, 2025 after being ill for a year.  She was born to Colonel Jack and Dorothy in Ft. Belvoir, VA on Feb 8, 1955.  Early on it was apparent that Barb was kind, faithful, and intelligent.  She loved animals of all kinds and wanted to help every person and animal in need of care.  Albert Schweitzer wrote, “A person is ethical only when life, as such, is sacred to her, that of plants and animals and persons, and when she devotes herself helpfully to all alike in need of help.”  Barb grew into a woman who believes that all life is sacred—she lived an ethical life which was evident by her love of all living things, including animals of all kinds.  Barb grew up in a military family with her 3 brothers - John, Rick, and Doug. They moved all over the world and Barb graduated from high school in Heidelberg, Germany - in the castle. She grew up attending the Catholic Church with her family and then selected TCU as the college where she would receive her nursing degree.  She then received her training as a nurse anesthetist at Texas Wesleyan - it was a calling that fit with her ethical life given to helping all living things.  After graduating she was hired at John Peter Smith Hospital and would end up working there for 19 years and finished her career at Methodist Dallas.

In every area of her life, Barb was known as a kind and faithful person.  She met Deb Payne in July 2003 and they shared life together for 22 years.  Together they gave themselves to caring for every animal and every person they encountered who was in need.  Barb built her dream home on property with enough room to have animals of every kind - horses, donkeys, llamas, dogs, and yard art (the big animals).  She and Deb traveled and enjoyed the beauty found all over the world.

Barb and Deb joined Celebration Community Church in 2005 - Barb gave herself to serving the church in any way that she was needed.  She served on the church Board and for many years guided the planning of the annual church golf tournament which benefitted the church.  She never turned away from any one in need - her heart was big and wide and open to all living things.

Barb is survived by her wife, Deb; brothers, Rick and his wife Mary, and Doug; nieces and nephews, Jess, Jackson, Melissa, Leona, Nicole and a whole host of friends who became family to her.

Barb’s life will be celebrated on Monday, May 26, at 10:00 am in the sanctuary of Celebration Community Church.

You can remember Barb with a gift to Celebration; or a gift to “Don’t Forget to Feed Me” which provides food for animal owners who cannot afford to feed their pets.