Barbara Ann Sanders

Barbara Ann Sanders, 80, Conway, Ark., died comfortably after her far-too-short battle with cancer on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2013.

She was born in Decatur, Ill., on Dec. 12, 1932.

After studying at Millikin University, she married William Dale Meehan and eventually settled in Greencastle.

There she raised their five children, owned the Left Bank Gallery and was an active member of the Putnam County Summer Playhouse.

In 1979, she married James Sanders with whom she enjoyed residing in Colorado, California, New Mexico, Illinois, Sweden and finally settled in Conway 12 years ago. Here she has been a vital member of the Faulkner Academy of Arts performing with both the Women's Chorus and with the theater creating costumes and performing in such productions as "Death by Marriage," "You Can't Take It With You" and "In Love With Broadway."

She played the grandmother in the award-winning, UCA student film work, "Ouachita Rising."

She was an active member of the Master Gardeners of Faulkner County, a friend of Faulkner County Public Library and a supporter of the Faulkner County Humane Society.

Barbara was preceded in death by her brother, James Ficker.

Survivors include her siblings, Betty Schilling of Knoxville, Tenn., Jack Ficker of Bountiful, Utah, and Cynthia Floyd of Decatur, Ill.; five children, William V. Meehan of Conway, Carlia Meehan of Prospect, Ohio, Jennifer Meehan-Mills of Zionsville, Patrick Meehan of South Bend, and Megan Meehan-Dorr of Cincinnati; nine grandchildren, Morgan (Meehan) Schroeder, Katelyn (Meehan) Lizarraga, Cameron (Meehan) Lizarraga, Aja Meehan-Dew, Helen Mills, William Mills, Jacob Dorr, Joseph Dorr and Daniel Dorr; and one great-grandchild, Mea Antonowicz.

Services will be conducted Saturday, Nov. 2 at Faulkner Academy of Arts at 2201 Washington Ave. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Service will begin at 2:30 p.m. and will be led by the Mustard Seed Church.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Barbara's memory to either Faulkner Academy of Arts (P.O. Box 93, Wooster, AR 72181) or to the Faulkner County Humane Society (P.O. Box 1055, Conway, AR 72033).

The family would like to thank Conway Regional Hospital (both the CHOP Unit and the wonderful second-floor nurses), Gentiva Hospice, the Faulkner Academy of Arts, and the Mustard Seed Church. Her children are also thankful for all of the loving support of family and friends.