No surprise to those who knew her, the following obituary was written largely by my mom in advance of her death. She also chose the photo.
Dr. Harriet H. Barrish, also known to many as Momma B, of Overland Park, KS, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on April 23, 2025. Services will be held on April 27 at 1:00pm at Mt. Moriah, Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home located at 10507 Holmes Road, Kansas City, MO 64131. Burial will be at Mount Moriah Cemetery South.
Dr. Barrish was preceded in death by her husband of thirty-nine years, Dr. I. Jay Barrish, by her mother and father, Ruth and Leo Shultz of Overland Park, KS and her brother Myron B. Shultz of California. Dr. Barrish is survived by her son Brad Barrish his wife, Laura Hess and their two children Cassidy and Ozzie of Los Angeles, CA; by her son Jonas Barrish, his wife, Meghann and their two children, Dov and Leora of Overland Park, KS; by her daughter, Brandy Barrish, her husband Matt Solomon and their three sons Julian Jay Magness, Jonah Solomon and Eli Solomon of Overland Park, KS. She also leaves behind a wonderful extended family of cousins, special friends and longtime office manager and close friend of over thirty-eight years, Jeanne Harmon.
Dr. Barrish was born on March 17, 1945, on her mother’s birthday in Kansas City, MO. She attended Paseo High School, Shawnee Mission East High School, and graduated in the first graduating class at Shawnee Mission West. She received her BA, MA, and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Kansas. She was an undergraduate member of Psi Chi National Honor Society in Psychology. She was a Public Health Service Fellow during graduate school. She was a well-known and respected psychologist in private practice and taught over the years at several area universities, colleges, and hospitals. She also authored numerous professional articles, consulted, presented papers, and co-authored two books with her husband. She was an Associate Fellow of the Albert Ellis Institute in New York. She served on the Board and was a past President and Fellow of the Kansas Psychological Association.
She was a pioneer in behavioral and cognitive-behavioral psychology and was one of the area’s early therapists who introduced behavioral and cognitive-behavioral psychology to the clinical setting. Her master’s thesis became a Citation Classic and was later developed into a marketed game for use in the classroom setting. She belonged to numerous professional organizations but devoted her private time to her family. Her passions included dedication to her profession of helping people, her family, pets, and artistic activities.
The family would like to thank the many friends and extended family members who were a constant blessing to her and us, especially over the last few years. She was loved and cared for by so many. In the final days of her life, she was surrounded by family and loved ones. They are especially grateful for the compassionate nurses and staff of Monarch Hospice & Palliative Care.
In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated to Operation Wild Life, the Humane Society of Greater Kansas City - Gabriel’s Fund, Harvesters, Children’s Mercy, Defenders of Wildlife or an organization or charity of your choice.
