Barbara Lee Woolery

After a hard fought battle with cancer, Barbara Lee Woolery passed away on August 7, 2026, at the age of 51. She was born on June 29, 1975, to Harold H. and Irene (Lechner) Woolery at Susan B. Allen Hospital in El Dorado, Kansas. Her love and legacy live on through her three children, Exandrea Morehouse, Donovan and Kody Gray as well as her first grandson, Wilder, who was her pride and joy. She loved being grandma to him and spent as many hours taking care of him as she could while her health permitted.

Barbara loved following the local carnival and spent many hours working behind the scenes for several years. She considered herself to be one of the "carnies" and formed many lasting friendships among them. She became a truck driver and could get behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler and maneuver it through traffic and park it better than many of us do our cars. Much to her dismay she had to give that up when she developed diabetes and could no longer qualify for a commercial license. She liked to play RuneScape and other games on her computer to occupy her time.

In a recent conversation she had with her youngest son, Kody, they discussed some of her favorite things. Her favorite place to eat was Angelo's where she always ordered cheese manicotti, plain lettuce and tomato salad with the Italian house dressing and, of course, their delicious garlic bread. She would get the three-sleeve manicotti so she could have leftovers for another meal. She loved bright colors and wore shorts year-round unless she had to go someplace special that necessitated she wear long pants. She mainly liked country music but didn't necessarily have a favorite artist. After her grandma died she became the noodle maker for Thanksgiving dinner and taught Kody how to make them and he was the official noodle cutter for her. She told him she tried to live by the Golden Rule of "do unto others as you would have them do unto you".

In addition to her kids Exandrea, Donovan and Kody, and grandson, Wilder, Barbara has two sisters. She has shared a home for the past five years with her oldest sister, Caralee Machado. She spent many hours talking on the phone with her other sister, Loralee Bannon, to help pass the time. Her father, Harold, is still living. She is also survived by her Aunt Maxine Gracy and Aunt Darlene Lechner and her husband, Mike Davis, as well as her Uncle Walter Lechner and his wife, Leanne. She also leaves behind her niece and nephew, Amanda and Kyle Bannon, as well as many cousins and other loved ones.

The family will have a private memorial for Barbara at a later date. She will be buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Augusta, Kansas, alongside her mom, Irene, as well as grandparents, Alice and Walt Lechner, Aunt Alene Daggett, her cousin, Johnny Daggett, who died from leukemia the month before she was born, and her Uncle Dean Gracy. She also was preceded in death by her half-brother, Harold Eugene Woolery.