Barbara Kay Zang

Barbara Kay Zang, a cherished, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, aunt and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on December 21, 2025. Barb was lovingly raised by Francis Euard and Gladys Smith Euard. Born on January 22, 1943 in Kewanee Illinois, Barb was the embodiment of a Matriarch. She was caring, selfless, and a shining light that was truly the center and rock of the family. She had the most generous and giving heart that shaped every chapter of her almost 83 wonderful years. Her influence both within her family and beyond to her friendships and community was undeniable.

After graduating from Kewanee High School in Kewanee, Illinois in 1961 she attended Mary Crest Catholic College and Drake University. Barb married her high school sweetheart, Terrence Raymond Zang in 1963 and resided in Des Moines, Iowa where they welcomed her eldest children Terry and Tim. Terry was drafted by the Packers, and they moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin. They then moved to Morton, Illinois, where they had their daughter Tami and later ended up in Toledo, Ohio and Todd, Tara and Tracy were added to the family. Terry’s job took him back to their hometown, Kewanee, Illinois, and then back to Sylvania, Ohio for two years before one last transfer to Arlington, Texas in 1977. The family loved Texas and that is where they remained and called home. Barb was a longtime member of St Vincent de Paul Catholic church where she lived her life rooted in faith with a devotion that inspired all who knew her.

Barb always had a love for interior design and began her career in 1979 working at The Finishing Touch design studio in Arlington, Tx. She was an extremely talented and successful designer and quickly made quite a name for herself in the community. She had a God given gift and used it to create so many beautiful homes that she took so much pride in. She established her own firm, Barbara Zang Interiors, in 1989 and continued to put her magic touches on client’s homes until the very end. Barb’s clients became friends for life and she loved them all like family. It didn’t matter if it was an apartment, or a million-dollar home, she approached every house call as if it were the most important, which it truly was to her. Barb loved to give back to her community by volunteering at Mission Arlington’s Christmas store during the holidays and taking her grands to visit local nursing homes to sing Christmas carols. She loved the holiday parties that she organized at her daughter Tracy’s group home and somehow always managed to get all her grands to show up dressed as Santa, Buddy the elf, the grinch and reindeers. Her devotion to caring for Tracy and bringing love and joy to all of those around her, truly made such a difference not just to Tracy but to all the women’s lives who lived in the group home with her. No one was forgotten when it came to Barb.

Barbs love for her family was unwavering. She loved her family fiercely and never missed an opportunity to be with them and support them. She loved the annual trips to Steamboat more than anything. Having everyone under the same roof was her most favorite thing. She never missed a single sporting event, school function, grandparent’s day at school or any opportunity to cheer on each of her twelve grand kids. She was their number one fan. She truly was the heart and soul of the family, and was the loving center that made it her biggest priority to bring everyone together and make each one of us feel so special and loved. She adored her thirteen greats, and looked forward to each new arrival with numbers 14, 15 and 16 on the way. From birthdays, to back to school parties, grandchildren reviews, trips to the ranch, her yearly Christmas card, our annual easter egg hunt, to every holiday - she looked forward to each and orchestrated it all to make sure that it was special for everyone. She loved nothing more than everyone being together. She went all out on everything she did, from decorating her home for the holidays to spoiling her grands on Christmas morning, she made it her mission to bring the family together and to give so much love to everyone. She created traditions and memories that her family will carry on in her memory. Family was everything to Barb, and she let everyone know it. She talked about how important family is all the time and instilled the importance of being there for both friends and family - no matter what. As a dear friend of Barb’s said it perfectly, God’s love always shined from her heart.

Her kindness and genuine care for each and every person in her life was demonstrated not only by words but by her actions. She was a true blessing in the lives of everyone that knew her. Barb was the most generous and giving person, she took care of everyone and never expected anything in return. She was the best teacher and taught us to be kind, caring and compassionate especially to those that needed it most. We had the privilege of watching her take care of so many people throughout her life. She was our mentor, role model and the strongest person any of us have ever known. Barb didn’t sweat the small stuff, she taught us to pick our battles wisely and to never give up on our dreams. She always knew exactly what to say to make everything better, and so many people went to her for advice. She handled the challenges life threw at her with grace, and remarkable strength, never wanting anyone to feel sorry for her, or ever wanting to burden anyone, she quietly handled everything with grace. She was so very thankful for the family God gave her and would do anything for any one of them at the drop of a hat. She will be so deeply missed by everyone that knew her, but the impact she made will carry on and never be forgotten.

Barb is survived by her six children; Terry Zang and his wife, Susan; Tim Zang; Tami DeClercq and her husband, Dave; Todd Zang and his wife, Georgie; Tara Gray and her husband, Mike; Tracy Zang; and Deanna Zang Jones and her husband, Chuck. Barb was a treasured sister and is also survived by her loving sister, Patricia Harper; and her brother, John Euard and his wife Elissa.

Her twelve grandchildren brought her so much joy, Austin Zang and his wife, Dusti; Todd Murray and his wife, Addie; Ashley Dale and her husband, Carson; Lauren Williams and her husband, Kevin; Tanner Zang and his wife, Kennedy; Michael Gray and his wife, Gabi; Andie Felix and her husband, Nicholas; Barbie Viken and her husband, Payne; Megan Wall and her husband, Hunter; Brian DeClercq; Mollykate Gray and her fiancé, Jack McCullough. She was blessed with thirteen beautiful Great-Grandchildren with three more on the way. Isabelle and Zeke Zang; Emmalyn and J. Y. Bell; Elizabeth Murray; Lowen Dale; Weston and Henry Williams; Grayson and Merritt Zang; Copeland and Wyatt Gray and George Felix.

In addition, she is also survived by her loving sister-in-law, Zoe Price; brother-in-law, Jack Regan; sister-in-law, Mary Ince and her husband Lyle; and sister-in-law, Rita Hawkins and her husband Greg. She also leaves behind so many loving nieces and nephews and their families.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her late husband Terrence Zang, sister, Sharon Downey; brother-in-law Jerry Harper; sister-in-law, Loretta Regan; sister-in-law, Patricia Zang; brother-in-law Brent Price; nephew, Ben Price and many extended family, friends and clients that she lost and loved dearly.

In celebration of her life, those wishing to honor her memory may send flowers or make a donation to UT Southwestern Medical Center Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center UT Southwestern

Mailed donations:

UT Southwestern Medical Center

Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center

In Memory of Barbara Zang

P.O. Box 910888

Dallas, TX 75391-0888