Barbara Sell

Barbara Ann Sell, 82, of Columbia died June 29, 2025, after a months-long battle with cancer.

In 1968, Sell and her husband, Michael, moved to Columbia, where he attended the University of Missouri. Upon his graduation, the couple moved to Monroe City, to co-publish the Monroe City News for 18 years, where she wrote and edited articles for publication.

Although Sell wasn’t a trained journalist, she became adept at writing obituaries, ensuring her work accurately reflected the lives of the people she was writing about because she understood how important it was to their loved ones. She continued to work at the Monroe City News for five years after the couple sold the newspaper in 1989.

In 1994, Barbara and Mike moved to Columbia, where he served as ad director for Missouri Press Service.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by three daughters, Jennifer, Holly and Lori; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and many more family and friends throughout Missouri.