Barbara Priscilla (Fleming) Speer passed away peacefully on Sunday, May 25, two days shy of her 99th birthday. A Lexington resident for more than 70 years, she was raised here and, in turn, settled here to raise her own family. She was born in Somerville in 1926 to Clifford and Eleanor Frances Fleming.

Barbara graduated from Lexington High School in 1944 and went to work at the Lexington Savings Bank, where she worked for Edwin Worthen. She was fond of sharing her recollections of Mr. Worthen's oft-spoken phrase, "Thank you muchly."  One of her responsibilities at the bank was a weekly visit to the elementary schools in town to promote savings stamps. As part of the war effort, students were encouraged to collect stamps in their passbooks which, when filled,  were converted to War (Savings) Bonds. The local kids knew her as "the stamp lady."

She maintained a vigorous war time correspondence with her neighborhood sweetheart, Arthur Speer. He returned safely home in 1946, and they were married in 1947, "three days before my twenty-first birthday," she liked to point out.

Both Barbara and Arthur worked in the family printing business, Fleming and Son in Somerville. The popular firm counted among its clients many area businesses, churches, colleges and universities, not the least of which was the Town of Lexington. The family brought their work home with them and it was not an uncommon sight to see the couple laying out the Lexington town ballots on the kitchen table or reading aloud the entries in the "List of Persons 21 and Older" for proofreading purposes. More familiarly called The Nosy Book, the current edition was never far from reach at home – an important reference in an analog world.

Barbara's life was devoted to the service of those around her, whatever the need. She gifted baked goods to neighbors and pitched in to mind the neighborhood children; some were actual nieces and nephews, but all of them knew her fondly as Auntie Barbara.

She nursed her husband through a battle with cancer, and when he lost that fight, she immediately took in her elderly mother to care for her. When she lost her mother, Barbara became a DCF Foster Parent and cared for many children from disrupted families, including two sets of siblings whose care and well-being she devoted herself to.

In later years, she enjoyed traveling with her sister, Norma (Fleming) Small, also from Lexington. Their adventures took them to Australia, Panama, Alaska, Hawaii as well as other parts of the U.S. But most of all, Barbara enjoyed time spent with her family.

Whether a birthday celebration, a backyard barbecue or a spontaneous gathering, Barbara loved connecting with her extended family members. She was always interested in hearing everyone's latest news and quick to make those around her laugh. Her humor was keen, sharp-witted and occasionally cutting. Her best moments were when she could relish the reaction of a well-landed dig, always quick to explain that her good-natured teasing was " how you know I love you."

Barbara leaves behind two daughters, Linda Razzano (James) of Lexington, and Marilyn Denton (Bill Briggs) of Bedford; her grandchildren, Emily Razzano (Jackie Wadhwa) of Arlington, Virginia, Jared Razzano (Kelly Francis) of Somerville and Alex Denton (Katrina Walther) of Billerica; Great-grandchildren Ava Denton, Owen Denton, Tate Wadhwa and Emmett Razzano. Barbara enjoyed a loving relationship with her adult step-grandchildren Stephanie Briggs-Hoffmann (Jack), Heidi Jette (Roger) and the late Erica Tropeano (Gino). She is survived by seven step-great-grandchildren and three step-great-great-grandchildren.

Barbara had the good fortune of being entrusted, for a time, with the care of Elizabeth and Nicky Beraldi and Philip and John Shea, who enriched her life and will continue to remember her loving attentions.

Barbara's family is so very grateful for the attentive, compassionate caregivers at Bridges by Epoch in Westford, where she spent her final days. Care Dimensions Hospice and Right at Home of Bedford also provided much-appreciated support for Barbara and her family in the last years of her life.

A  Memorial Service will be held Saturday, June 7 at the Douglass Funeral Home, 51 Worthen Rd., Lexington at 10 a.m. Visitation immediately prior to the service from 9-10 a.m. Interment Westview Cemetery, Lexington. Relatives and friends are kindly invited.

In lieu of flowers, feel free to donate to Alzheimer's Association in honor of Barbara Speer.