BARR, Ray D. Apr 6, 1929 Apr 22, 2014 Age 85. A longtime business leader in the local area, Mr. Barr died Tuesday of complications from surgery. He began his career in real estate in 1941, helping his mother operate a six-room home near 27th and Dodge Streets which had been converted into four living units, one of which they occupied. He acquired his first apartment building in 1962 and established the R. D. Barr Co., a real estate management company, in 1965. Currently managed by Mr. Barrs daughter-in-law, Laurie Barr, the company manages six hundred rental units in the City of Omaha. He was an active member of the West Omaha Rotary Club Nebraska Association of Commercial Property Owners. He was a past director of the University of Nebraska at Omaha Alumni Association, twice captain and long-time member of the Tangier Shrine Temple Jo-De-Ra Cavaliers, Legion of Honor, Cycle Patrol and Demolay Knights as well as the Omaha Area Board of Realtors, Nebraska Realtors Association, Business Breakfast Club, Director of the Omaha Combined Health Agencies Drive (C.H.A.D.), and Director and Treasurer of the American Diabetes Association, Nebraska Affiliate. He received the Legion of Honor Degree from the Order of DeMolay. Mr. Barr attended Kemper Military School and was a 1947 graduate of Omaha Central High School and a 1951 graduate of the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He received his Master of Science degree in Accountancy from the University of Illinois in 1953, his Nebraska CPA certificate in 1956, and his California certificate in 1962. During the Korean War he received a direct commission and served as Deputy Finance Officer of the U S. Army Finance Office in Omaha. Later, he was a Management Consultant with Deloitte and Touche, Certified Public Accountants, in their San Francisco office, and Financial Vice President and co-owner of several Omaha industrial concerns. In 1984 Mr. Barr retired as Vice President of Finance from the OMECO-St John Co., an Omaha manufacturer of meat packing and material handling equipment. Upon retirement he became active in the R.D. Barr Co. For more than 15 years he served as its President, and even retirement couldnt keep him from checking in and offering his valued advice. Survivors include his wife, Laura Beth; son, Ray R. Barr who, together with his wife, Laura Lee, now operates the business; grandchildren: Jerrod Ray Barr and Amber Lee and husband, Jason Kempenar; great-grandchildren: Jaxson Ray, Lynden Lee Ann and Sawyer Michael Kempenar; stepchildren: Dr. Nancy OBrien, Paula Beth, Scott and Brent Leacox, and Suzanne Laws; step-grandchildren: Dr. Alexandra and Evan Kilgore, Katharine Moustakes and Jason Leacox. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lynda Ann Barr Saferstein, and two wives, both named Betty Ann. The family will receive friends Friday, April 25th, from 5pm to 8pm at the West Center Chapel, with MASONIC SERVICE at 7pm by Covert Lodge #11, AF & AM. SERVICES Saturday, April 26th at 10am at Morning Star Lutheran Church, 331 So. 85 Ave. Interment, Evergreen Memorial Park, followed by family reception at Happy Hollow Club. Memorials are suggested to Ray and Betty Barr Memorial Fund at Metropolitan Community College.
HEAFEY-HEAFEY-HOFFMANN DWORAK & CUTLER Mortuaries and Crematories 7805 West Center Road Omaha, Nebraska 68124 (402) 391-3900
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