Interests guide meaningful careers – Barbara Spencer

By Julie Hill Lehr

February is Heart Month — a time to celebrate Valentine’s Day and the American Heart Association’s campaign to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease. Remember those you love this month. And don’t forget to email me with ideas for upcoming features. Please send suggestions to editor Gabe Stark at GStark@cherryroad.com

or contact him at 660-654-0926.

In February’s Trenton Tales from Julie Hill Lehr, we honor Barbara Spencer.

Barbara Spencer has served Trenton in many roles — first as an educator in the Trenton R-IX School District and as an adjunct professor at North Central Missouri College, then as a receptionist and later a night supervisor with Preferred Family Health Care, and as an employment supervisor for Green Hills Community Action Agency. By choosing this varied career path, Barbara was able to pursue her interests in education, sociology and psychology. Those interests began when she started her higher education at Trenton Junior College.

Barbara’s father died when she was a senior at Princeton High School, creating a new chapter in life for her and her mother, Catheryn Higdon. Both decided to attend TJC. At first, Barbara planned to pursue degrees in psychology and sociology, but her mother suggested she also consider earning a degree in English education. Since her mother was paying her tuition, Barbara took her advice.

Barbara’s transition to higher education was easier with her mother attending college alongside her during the first two years. While at TJC, Barbara met and fell in love with Steve Spencer. Steve was a machinist for Holmes Machine and Welding in Trenton and eventually purchased the business, changing its name to Precision Machine and Welding.

After graduating from TJC, Barbara attended Northeast Missouri State University, now Truman State University. Those two years were challenging, as she commuted between Trenton and Kirksville while completing her degrees. She graduated in 1974 with two degrees — one in English education and one in sociology. Her love of learning later led her to earn a master’s degree in English education and a degree in library science.

Once she earned her teaching degree, Barbara was hired to teach in Jameson, Missouri. After a year of gaining experience, she secured a teaching position in Trenton, where she taught English at Trenton High School. It marked the beginning of a long tenure with the R-IX system. Barbara said her enthusiasm for literature and composition motivated her, but even more important was her enjoyment of working with students.

“I encouraged my students to do their best and praised their successes,” Barbara said. “I found something good in every student and found they could educate me on their favorite hobbies.”

In addition to teaching at THS, Barbara became an adjunct professor at NCMC, where she taught English and speech and later worked with the Academic Resource Center program.

At age 52, Barbara decided to pivot in her career and put her sociology degree to use. She joined Preferred Family Health Care, working as a receptionist for one summer before becoming a night supervisor in the drug and alcohol addiction program. A year later, a full-time position opened at Green Hills Community Action Agency in employment and training for low-income individuals and families. She spent four years in that role and enjoyed helping people.

It wasn’t long before Barbara realized how much she missed education. She returned to the field by using her library science degree in the Laredo, Missouri, school district.

This one-day-a-week position fulfilled her desire to work with children and teens. She remained there for two years before moving on to what she described as her favorite job — babysitting grandma. Spending time with her grandchildren was time well spent.

As her grandchildren grew older and began attending school, Barbara found new and fulfilling ways to stay active in the community.

“My life philosophy is to keep moving and trying new experiences,” Barbara said. “Staying at home sitting on the couch watching TV is not my favorite thing.”

Among her favorite post-retirement experiences was working with Master Video, run by friends Buddy and Karla Hannaford. For more than 10 years, Barbara helped videotape football and basketball games, dance programs, band and music concerts, and weddings.

Barbara also volunteered at the North Central Children’s Advocacy Center and the Green Hills Women’s Shelter, where she used her education and experience to make a difference. During her teaching career, she was aware that many children faced daily challenges, but volunteering opened her eyes to deeper struggles.

“There are so many children sexually and physically abused by adults,” Barbara said. “This was totally foreign to me, having grown up in a loving home.”

Those experiences led her to advocate for greater awareness among educators about the difficulties some children face while trying to learn in the classroom.

“My years of volunteering at the women’s shelter helped me understand why women do not leave a bad situation without help,” Barbara said.

Working at the shelter was stressful, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, Barbara decided to step away from that volunteer role. She increased her hours volunteering at the Church Women United Thrift Shop, which helps families obtain needed items at reasonable prices. She also served on the thrift shop board.

Barbara remains active in many organizations, including Friends of the Library, Daughters of the American Revolution, NCMC Booster Club, Grundy/Mercer County Retired School Personnel, and the Grundy County Museum. While staying busy with community involvement, she also makes time for family.

Steve and Barbara have one daughter, Trisha, who is married to Scott Sharp. They have two grandchildren — Owen, a junior at Trenton High School, and Carly, an eighth grader.

“They are the joy of our lives,” Barbara said.

The couple attends their grandchildren’s band competitions, programs and sporting events. Barbara is often involved in fundraising efforts for the high school band program and the NCMC Athletic Booster Club.

Barbara is part of a large family and is the middle child among four siblings. Her oldest sister is Cathie Smith. Her oldest brother is Roland Higdon, and her younger brothers are Ed and Albert Higdon. All of her siblings, as well as her mother, earned college degrees and spent their lives serving their communities. Barbara said her parents, Maurice and Catheryn Higdon, believed education was important regardless of the career path chosen. Many Grundy County residents remember her mother as the head librarian at the Grundy County Jewett Norris Library for more than 20 years following her husband’s death in 1969.

Barbara maintains close ties with her cousins, who were her childhood playmates while growing up in Cainsville and Spickard, Missouri. Each year, she travels with cousins Bev Bosley and Marcia Hamilton, enjoying shared memories and new experiences.

Barbara remains optimistic about Trenton’s future, noting that the community consistently steps up when people are in need — whether facing medical expenses or recovering from a house fire.

“It is my hope that Trenton will grow with more employment opportunities so the youth of Trenton will have many opportunities available to them and will stay in Trenton,” Barbara said. “Even if our youth move to other locations, hopefully they will have fond memories of growing up in Trenton.”