LORETTA A BARRETT

April 26, 2023

Loretta Ann Barrett, 77 of Quincy, Illinois passed away Sunday, April 23, 2023 at St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria, Illinois.

She was born on December 29, 1945 in Maywood, Missouri the third child of Charles William and Mary Elizabeth Miller Shear.

She was married to George Barrett on September 29, 1973 at the Bethel Assembly of God Church in Quincy, Illinois. They moved to Cincinnati, Ohio for thirteen years before they divorced. She remained friends with her former husband.

Loretta graduated from La Grange High School in 1965. She went to work at Sheller-Globe in Keokuk, Iowa and graduated from the Reish American School of Auctioneering in Mason City, Iowa, where she earned the title of “Colonel”. She also worked at Davis-Cleaver Company, Quincy Paper Box Company and Weems Laundry. While in Cincinnati, she graduated from the Moller Beauty Academy in 1985. After moving back to Quincy, she attended Gem City Beauty College and the former Flamingo Beauty College. She also took classes at John Wood Community College.

She enjoyed doing word puzzles, writing poetry, and watching reruns of “The Waltons”. She enjoyed spending time with her daughters and other family members. She was a strong willed and independent woman who was fiercely protective of her family, especially her children. She will be greatly missed by all who loved her.
She is survived by two daughters, Ruth Barrett and Rachel (Gregory) Schieferdecker, both of Quincy, Il.; her siblings, James Shear of Lewistown, Mo., Gary (Vivian) Shear of Quincy, Ill., Teddy Shear of Maywood, Mo., Brenda De Bow of Cedar Rapids, Ia., Diana Shear of Lewistown, Mo. and Donna Boling of Durham, Mo.; eight nieces and a nephew; seven great nieces and ten great nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Linda Shear and a great niece, Acadia De Bow.

Visitation will be held Saturday, April 29, 2023 from 10 AM until the time of services at Arnold’s Funeral Home in Canton.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 29, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Arnold’s Funeral Home in Canton, Missouri with Rev. Greg Mitchell officiating. Burial will be in the Dover Cemetery-Selves Addition

Pallbearers: Bahkt Zaman, Gregory Schieferdecker, Richard Gerding and Andrew Gerding.