Barbara Jean "Barb" McCurdy, 69, of Rio Rancho, NM, died peacefully at home on November 13, 2022. Barb was born on April 18, 1953, in Bellefonte, PA, the daughter of the late Joseph A. and Dorothy McCurdy. She is survived by her spouse, Stephanie L. Singleton; her dog, Rascal; and her siblings Joseph R. McCurdy and his wife, Diann, of Lancaster, PA; David McCurdy and his wife, Maureen, of Bethlehem, CT; and Janice M. Klein and her husband, Christopher, of Gainesville, VA.  She has 5 nieces and nephews and 7 great-nieces and nephews.

Barb was very active as a child and teenager. She was a strong member of her softball, basketball and field hockey teams; her name was frequently found in the sports section of the local newspaper for her high scoring during a game. She was the manager of her high school field hockey team. She and her family enjoyed going camping and going to the beach and she was active in Brownies and Girl Scouts.

Barb moved to Colorado in the mid 1970's and then to New Mexico in the 1980s. She came to consider the "Land of Enchantment" her home and couldn't imagine living elsewhere.  Barb stated that she "came west as an adult because her parents had taken her and her brothers out west on a vacation as children and she just had to go back".

In the west, Barb had a full and busy life. She began her Buddhist practice in 1975 when she became a member of the Soka Gakkai International - USA. She continued to love sports and remained a devoted Penn State football fan her entire life.  She met her future spouse, Stephanie, in 2003 and they were married in 2005; they lived in Albuquerque, and later in the Jemez mountains, and Rio Rancho.  In fact, Barb fulfilled a lifelong dream by living in the mountains where she also became a member of the LaCueva Fire and Rescue and earned a First Responder designation.  She loved being outdoors and had an amazing knack for spotting wildlife.  She took every opportunity to be outside whether it be by working in her yard, hiking, or taking her dogs for walks. Barb also was a supporter of Multiple Sclerosis research and participated in several Walk MS events to raise money. As an adult, Barb worked in the field of architecture as a construction specialist. She primarily did drafting for educational and commercial buildings.

Barb loved to entertain in her home and was known as the "hostess with the mostess." She worked hard to ensure that the people who entered her home felt comfortable and welcome. She loved cooking for her family and friends and would routinely make her guests their favorite food or drink.   She had an artistic eye and could take an unremarkable house or yard and make it into a place of beauty in which she could entertain.

In the days leading up to her death, Barb said that she "had lived a good life and had no regrets".

A celebration of her life will be scheduled for the spring of 2023.  In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made in Barb's honor to Soka Gakkai International-USA at SGI-USA, 606 Wilshire Blvd., Santa Monica, CA, 90401 or to the American Cancer Society.