Buff Colleen Barr

Buff Cree Barr, 67, of Ringoes, New Jersey, passed away after a long illness on December 10, 2023 at Hunterdon County Medical Center, surrounded by her family.

Buff was the daughter of Kenneth D. Cree and Janet Cree (nee Hewitson) and grew up in Watchung, New Jersey in the house that her father built. She was the second of their three children, the oldest being Scott P. Cree and the youngest Kristin Cree. In her youth, Buff spent many summers operating a campground with her family in Vermont, where they created many cherished memories of the fun times they’d had.

Buff received a Bachelor of Science from Quinnipiac University, and worked briefly at Reed and Carnrick, where she met her husband of forty-three years, James (Jim) P. Barr, Esq. Together they raised two children, Erin C. Barr, Esq. and Galen P. Barr.

For many years Buff worked as a library assistant for Hunterdon County Library where, among other duties, she managed the inter library loans. It was here that she first got involved in animal rescue when she began leaving food out for the feral cat population that lived around the library headquarters in Flemington, New Jersey. This led to her increasing participation with animal rescue organizations for many years thereafter. Buff was widely known as someone to call upon for help, whether it was looking to adopt a dog or cat, help a feral or stray population in need, or move animals out of southern kill shelters. Over the years, she saved hundreds of animals from shelters and deplorable conditions, and through her involvement in TNR programs prevented thousands more from being born into vulnerable situations.

She and her husband Jim traveled widely, including to Peru, Puerto Rico, Germany, Barbados, and more. They explored both independently as well as with groups, such as their local chapter of the Sons of Italy and sometimes on the back of a Harley Davidson with the Morning Thunder motorcycle group.

Buff will be remembered by those who knew her as an eternal optimist, as a pragmatic individual, and for her endless love, patience, generosity, and kindness – especially to those who were most vulnerable. She had a lifelong love of animals, especially dogs, and her family hopes that she is joined in the hereafter by those four-legged family members that went before her – Oscar, Jessie, Cody, and Zoe. She was devoted to her family and extremely proud of their accomplishments, including her daughter’s graduation from law school and her son’s proprietorship of the Van Lieus Brewing Company.

Throughout her lifetime, Buff also developed friendships with those who became family, including Brian and Linda Janke, their children Kevin, Wayne, and Shannon (now Martin), their daughters-in-law and son-in-law Tina, Danielle, and David, and their grandchildren. The family thanks the Jankes for their friendship and generosity of spirit throughout the years.

She is survived by her husband James, her younger sister Kristin, her children Erin and Galen, her son-in-law David D. Masterman, and her son’s partner Megan Cole. She is predeceased by her parents, Kenneth and Janet Cree, and her older brother Scott P. Cree.

A private cremation was held for Buff on December 13, 2023, and the Barr family will announce further plans for a celebration of life observance for Buff at which all who knew her will be welcome.

Arrangements are under the care and direction of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

You are encouraged to visit Buff’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of her life.

In lieu of flowers please remember Buff’s legacy and devotion to animals through making a memorial gift to one of her favorite charitable organizations: Goats of Anarchy, Skylands Animal Sanctuary and Rescue, or Mockingbird Farm Sanctuary in Byron, New York.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”

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