Greta Grace (Barr) Meece

Greta Grace (Barr) Meece, 86, of Louisville, Kentucky, died at Jefferson Place Health Care Center, Sunday, November 24, 2024.  Born in Clymer, Pennsylvania, January 29, 1938, she was the daughter of William S and Beatrice (Weston) Barr.  She was married to A. Wayne Meece on July 18, 1959.

She graduated from Purchase Line High School, Commodore, Pennsylvania, Kentucky Christian University, Grayson, Kentucky and Sangamon State University, Springfield, Illinois.

She is survived by her husband Wayne, her son Timothy Arnold, of Little Elm, Texas, her daughter, Beverly Ann Bruntz (Jeff) of Bagdad, Kentucky and son James Arthur. of Crestwood, Kentucky, her five grandchildren, Jacqueline Ralston of Renton, Washington, Audrey and Ian Meece of Little Elm, Texas, Sydney and Camryn Meece of Crestwood, Kentucky and 3 great granddaughters, Lydia, Lena and Lorelei Ralston of Renton, Washington, her siblings Richard Barr (Joann) Strongstown,  Beula Wolf (Ronald) Indiana,  and Frank Barr, (Linda) Clymer, all in Pennsylvania and many cousins, nieces and nephews and lots of friends.

Greta was preceded in death by her parents and the following siblings: Elmer Edward Barr, killed in Vietnam, Rozella Emigh, William Wendell, Nancy Ellen Baucius and Vernilia Recupero.

Greta taught school in Shelbyville, Illinois, specializing in blind and visually impaired students.  In helping these students, she learned to read and write braille, (by sight, not by feel.)

Greta joined her pastor husband, Wayne to serve churches in Bath County, Kentucky, Modesto and Tower Hill, Illinois and Florissant, Missouri.  In January 1971 the Meece family moved to Liberia, West Africa to serve as missionaries. Together with a mission team they established a Christian high school in Buchanan, Liberia.  Greta often taught the Bible classes.  They served as teachers in many Liberian churches, often walking miles into the tropical rainforest to reach them

Civil war in Liberia forced the Meeces to move to a neighboring country, La Cote d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) to work with Liberian Refugees fleeing the war. Greta helped establish and teach a school for refugee children Again they moved to Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire to do church leadership training, reaching out to neighboring countries of Liberia, Ghana and Nigeria.  Greta and Wayne lived and worked in Africa for a total of 23 years.

The Meeces retired from overseas mission work in 2002 and joined a local mission agency called, Team Expansion.  Wayne is a Field Coordinator and Greta worked along side him as a Member Care Associate. In the more than 15 years Greta worked with Team Expansion she traveled with Wayne to visit, advise, train and encourage missionaries in Europe, Africa and Central Asia.

Greta was a member of the North East Christian Church and often served as a teacher, counselor and encourager to many people who love and respect her.  She loved her family, her work and the many friends and coworkers she knew, loved and blessed with her leadership and wisdom.

In lieu of flowers Greta and Wayne would recommend that you make a contribution to the mission outreach of   Team Expansion, 4112 Old Routt Road, Louisville, KY 40299

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