First Wife - "MERI BARBER BROWN" "Sister Wives"

I've had this around awhile, and just now getting it out. Add to our knowledge of Meri with your comments!
We are all wild about MERI! Let’s face it – she is nice, funny, and in a heck of a world!

Born - 16 Jan 1971 - Alameda, California

Parents:  WILLIAM JAMES BARBER, Jr. and BONNIE AHLSTROM BARBER

Dad has 5 wives. (2 which are David Preston Jessop’s first cousins) Did you know that David Jessop’s mother was Rulon Allred’s daughter?

Has MANY siblings, one deceased (Teresa) 

She was raised in the AUB church.

She has beautiful blue eyes.

Married at 19, in 1990; Has a dtr. MARIAH BROWN, 15.

 “Was the Bait” for KODY to enter Polygamy. 

MERI introduced KODY to ROBYN, and knew JANELLE and CHRISTINE before they married. Basically she’s the chooser of the next wife. Kinda like picking new carpet?

Can’t decide if she wants/doesn’t/jealous/or best friends with ROBYN.

MERI deals with a lot of hurtful issues surrounding infertility. She refused in vitro from KODY, which I found it sad they hadn’t done that before. 

Lost her job in the Mental Health Field b/c of the publicity of the show.. 

Was studying to be a Psychologist, to work with at risk teens (she’d be great with the Mormon teens)

Was JANELLE’S sister in law by her brother ADAM BARBER before she was her sister wife. 

Meri is Chief Tooth Puller of the house/ Photographer helper of the home.

She grieves over a sister TERESA, who died of colon cancer- raised awareness with the show. 

MERI notes that bad moods in one relationship carry into the others. "When he gets ornery with another one he gets weird with me," she says, explaining that it impacts the sexual nature of their relationship.

My Favorite line from MERI - “ROBYN, it’s W for Wyoming”

We worry about Meri. She seems suppressed and depressed. She has spoken many times that if it weren’t for her daughter, she would get out.  At that early point, I feel that Kody would have been happy with one wife. I wonder how that affects her now, if she could do it over.

Cried when KODY said she should have gotten a smaller house, but, stuck to her guns.

Says the Talking heads are therapeutic and brings stuff out in her.

Is a very loving mother and devoted wife….despite what husband she got handed.

MERI likes living on her own. (I would!!!!)

I like MERI, I think she would be a good friend, and fun at times to hang out with. I wish she didn’t have to be so miserable. She seems to be a very nice, kind person. How I wish she could have a family all to herself. She must be so conflicted growing up in the faith, and would be leaving her entire family essence, essentially, if she left.

Meri lost Teresa in 2006, She lost her father in 2007 and her maternal grandmother in 2008. That’s a lot of loss for one person. It may be part of why she’s so emotional.

William James Barber

11/9/1942 ~ 9/5/2007

Bill was born, grew up, got married, worked hard because he had a lot of kids, who had more kids, who are still having kids, wanted us to have a party, then he died, and we're having a party! Viewing Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E. 10600 So., Sandy, UT, Monday, September 10, 6-8 p.m. Graveside service Rocky Ridge Cemetery, I-15 exit 242, Tuesday, September 11, 11:30 a.m. Memorial Party Lehi, Tuesday, September 11, 3:00 p.m. Contact family for location. (Source: Deseret News, 8 Sept 2007)

Here's Grandmother's Obituary:A Legacy of Love

Joyce A Adams Osborn Evans, age 87, passed away Saturday, November 8, 2008, in Parowan, Utah. She was born October 31, 1921, Parowan Utah, to Will L and Lizzie Watson Adams.

"Joyce never established nor ran an orphanage like Mother Teresa, nor did she try to eradicate AIDS like Princess Diana, nor improve literacy like Barbara Bush, but she touched many lives, one by one, throughout her whole life. Much of the world may not know who Joyce Osborn Evans is, but those of us who knew her were touched by her love in countless ways."

Survived by husband Daniel Evans; children, Bill (Jone) Osborn, Manhattan Beach, CA, Bonnie Barber, Lehi, UT, Mimi (Marc) Lauper, Hacienda Heights, CA; thirteen grandchildren, thirty-four great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren; and brother, Karl (Karole) Adams, San Jose, CA.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 15, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. at the LDS Parowan 3rd Ward Chapel, South Main St, Parowan, UT. A visitation will be from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. prior to the service, at the Chapel. Interment will take place at 3:00 p.m. in the St. George City Cemetery, St. George, UT.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Joyce Adams Osborn Evans Memorial Fund, Utah Shakespearean Festival (435) 586-7880. (Source: Deseret News)

What can you think of to describe MERI? Or your favorite line from her? What would you like for MERI’S future?  Let’s see how much info we can list on Meri! Comment and add facts or fun things she's said, you get the drift.
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"Sister Wives" - MERI BARBER – The Sad Loss of Her Sister, Teresa Barber Kunz.

In both seasons, a teary eyed Meri mentions her sister, Teresa, who died of colon cancer at 32 in 2006. Meri brought up something that we all should think about …getting tested for Colon Cancer. It’s the third leading cause of death in America. Our family has dealt with this horrible cancer, and it pleased me to see Meri bring this tender subject up and having a colonoscopy for all to see. I’ve had one, they are not that bad. But, when you’ve lost someone to the cancer, watched their pain and suffering, it’s a different matter. It can be terrifying. After the death of her sister, Meri’s entire siblings have gotten a colonoscopy. They all had found polyps. These polyps, if taken out early, may prevent cancer. Meri had them, too. The colonoscopies they had may have saved every sibling!     

Every time she speaks of her, tears well up in her eyes. They were obviously close, loving sisters, a connection that Meri really needs right now and misses. Teresa had stage 4 cancer, and succumbed to it a short 11 months after being diagnosed.  It’s also a lesson on polygamy. Teresa was the second wife, and her loving sister wife would be raising her kids. “She loves them and they love her.” Meri tells us. Robyn and Meri both explained in different episodes that it was an unspoken rule among polygamists that a sister wife would take the kids and raise them. They see this as a comforting bonus of the lifestyle.

The thing that bothers me is the terminology. Sadly, Teresa wasn’t a wife in the eyes of the law. These women aren’t her “sisters.” Why not just call it what it is? Or come up with a better name for the different people “in the lifestyle.” Teresa was listed, as one would assume, as Teresa Barber, on the Social Security Death index.

Obituary: TERESA BARBER KUNZ

TERESA BARBER KUNZ 1973 ~ 2006; TERESA BARBER KUNZ, age 32, passed away February 6, 2006 at her home in Rocky Ridge, Utah. She was born May 2, 1973 in Alameda, California to WILLIAM JAMES BARBER, JR. and BONNIE AHLSTROM BARBER. She married JEFFERY KUNZ Feb. 24, 1996 in Bluffdale, Utah. Survived by her husband JEFF; children, JESSIKA LAUREN KUNZ, VIONA JUSTYNE KUNZ, WILLIAM JOSEPH KUNZ, and MYKENNA JOYCE KUNZ; parents, WILLIAM and BONNIE BARBER; many brothers, sisters, and extended family. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 11, 2006 at the Rocky Ridge Cemetery, Rocky Ridge, Utah. A memorial service and luncheon will be held at the Rocky Ridge Chapel following the interment. Funeral Directors, Anderson Funeral Home, Nephi, UT. (Source: Deseret News, Thurs. 9 Feb 2006)