Barbara Keys Bryner

Barbara Keys Bryner, 92, of Brimfield, Ohio, passed away peacefully in her home on June 24, 2026.

Barbara was born September 30th 1933 in Bluefield, Virginia to the late Rev. Hugh Graham Keys and Mary Milner Keys.

Barbara graduated as valedictorian from Green Bank High School in Green Bank, WV in 1952 and from King College in Bristol, Tennessee in 1956. She received her teacher certification from the University of Akron in 1973 and her Master of Library Science from Kent State University. She was the librarian at Brimfield Elementary from 1973-1993.

She met Lawrence Bryner at the Brimfield Methodist Church in 1954 and married 5 days after graduating from college on May 26, 1956.

She was a charter member of the Brimfield Historical Society and was a member of the Portage County District Library Board of Trustees for many years after retirement.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years and her sister, Beatrice Kennedy. She is survived by her sisters, Sue Shepard and Lois Spotten; her children, Ann Bryner Hedington (Tom), Beverly Bryner Sawyer (Julian), Daniel L Bryner, 8 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, July 10th at 4:00 P.M. at Bissler & Sons Funeral Home, 628 W. Main St. Kent, Ohio with calling hours from 2-4 P.M.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Brimfield Historical Society or the Western Reserve Nature Conservancy.

Services in care of Bissler & Sons Funeral Home and Crematory, 628 W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240.

“The reader has fallen asleep but the book is still open.”