Barbara was born Barbara Ruth Waddell on October 24, 1948 in Springfield, Missouri.
Family knew her as "Bobbie".
She was daughter of Morris Leon "Doc" Waddell and Alice Louise "Lou" (Kime) Waddell of Willard,
Missouri.
She is survived by her husband, Thomas "Tom" Roy Schuessler originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota.
They met in 2000 at Mercy Hospital in Mason City, Iowa. Finding friendship, companionship, shared interests and love for one another and for doing life together, the two have made their home on the banks of Beaver Lake outside Rogers, Arkansas. Their home has been a gathering spot for family and friends to enjoy their hospitality over holidays, pool parties and countless shared meals.
Barbara is survived by one sister, Nedra White, of Springfield, Missouri and one brother, Dennis Waddell, married to DaNell Waddell of Willard, Missouri. She was "Aunt Barbara" to her nieces, Barbara (Wallis) Stevens of Richmond, Virginia and Jessica (Waddell) Blake of Ozark, Missouri; her nephew, Ramie Waddell, of Springfield, Missouri and her great-nieces and nephews Sarah (Stevens) Cossey, Nathan Stevens, Caelan Waddell, Emory Blake and Mavin

Blake. Nieces and nephews are known to have fought over Barbara's homemade mint chocolate chip ice cream and especially her homemade  east rolls. They loved everything she cooked with the possible exception of that one diet pumpkin pie.
She was also "American Mom" to high school exchange student from Russia, Ekaterina "Kate" Pierson.
The two have kept in touch and remained close despite the continents that separating them. Kate now makes her home in Belgium along with her husband and two children. Other surviving family members include Aunt and Uncles Patsy (Waddell) and Danny McDaniel and Uncle Richard Waddell; along with cousins including lifelong friends Rick and Judy Gelsheimer. After graduating high school in Willard, Missouri, Barbara studied to become a Registered Nurse in St. Joseph, Missouri at Missouri Methodist Medical Center and School of Nursing. She earned a Bachelor's of Science from Southwest Missouri State University and a Master's in Education from Drury College both in Springfield, Missouri as well as a Master's of Nursing from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. Barbara taught a generation of exceptional nurses at Burge School on Nursing and worked in Labor and Delivery at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, Missouri. She also worked at Mercy Hospital in Mason
City, Iowa and Washington Regional Hospital in Fayetteville, Arkansas. As a nurse, nurse educator and director of nursing Barbara loved providing exceptional care from well qualified and professional nurses with a career focus on caring for new moms and babies in Labor and Delivery.
As a Nurse, Nurse Educator and Nurse Manager, Barbara would be honored to have the Nurse Honor Guard standing with her here today.
Since her retirement, Barbara is known for her artistry in quilting and in hooking rugs. Her family members treasure her gorgeous creations.

In honor of Barbara's life's work in the nursing profession, memorial donations can be made to Washington Regional Medical Foundation for the Nursing Scholarship Fund.  Checks may be made payable and sent to: Washington Regional Medical Foundation at P.O. Box 356, Fayetteville, AR 72702 or given online at www.wregional.com/give.  Gifts given in Barbara's memory will be used to provide scholarships to individuals seeking a nursing degree from Northwest Arkansas Community College.