FRAMINGHAM: Barbara Jane (Taylor) Schleicher, 95, died peacefully with her family at her side on Monday, May 4, 2015 following a period of declining health.
She was born in Newton on February 10, 1920 the daughter of the late Harold Taylor and Hazel B. (Glover) Taylor.
Barbara was the wife of the late Ervin Schleicher who died in 1990.
She was the mother of Carol MacGregor of Wayland; Jill Erickson of Hudson, NH and Wayne Humphrey of Maynard. Step-mother of John Schleicher of Chadron, NE; Robert Schleicher of Kaneohe, HI; David Schleicher of Greeley, CO; and Richard Schleicher of Los Angeles, CA. Also survived by several grandchildren, great grandchildren and step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Barbara spent her formative years in Wayland and graduated from Wayland High School with the Class of 1937. In the early 1930’s, she played professionally as a
pianist, accordion player and singer at many of the popular dance halls and cocktail lounges in the Metrowest area including The Villa, The Red Coach Grill, The Meadows and the Monticello.
As husband Ervin was employed by the United Nations, Barbara lived in several countries in Africa and W. Samoa from 1972 to 1978 when they retired to Chadron, NE. She resided in Chadron, NE for over 12 years and also resided in Marlborough for many years.
At the age of 71, she received her BS in Social Work from Chadron State College in Nebraska. Barbara loved to travel and to meet people from various backgrounds. She enjoyed knitting and needlepoint and all varieties of art projects. At the young age of 90 she wrote her autobiography titled “My Joy Was the Journey”. Her family also cherishes the volumes of scrapbooks Barbara assembled that document her family’s life and historical events for close to 100 years. She will be warmly remembered by her family and friends as a kind and outgoing person who left a tangible legacy for future generations to enjoy and to learn from.
Memorial Visitations will be held on Friday, May 29, 2015 from 10:30 until 11:15 am followed by her funeral services at 11:30 am at the John C. Bryant Funeral Home, 56 Pemberton Road (Off Rte 30), Wayland.
Private family interment will be held at the Taylor family lot in Lakeview Cemetery in Wayland,
In lieu of flowers, her family kindly suggests that memorial gifts in Barbara’s memory be sent to the charity of the donor’s choice.