Barbara was born on September 19, 1940, in Hicks, Arkansas. She started school when she was 4 years old. Her Aunt was the teacher in the little one room school and Barbara was a very bright child. She took pride in being a good student which paid off when she became Valedictorian of her Senior Class of 1957. She also played basketball in school; they played 3-on-3 back then and she always commented on how different the girls' game was now and how wished she could have shot the ball instead of playing defense.
She met the love of her life, Hugh, at 12 years old in school at Elkins and they were together for over 70 years. She graduated from college at SMS in Springfield with a Teacher's degree. She taught PE and History in Harrisonville, MO, for many years. She also coached the girls' track team which was very successful for its inaugural seasons. Education was very important to Barbara, and she continued to feel that way her entire life.
Barbara and Hugh raised 2 daughters, Toni and Shannon, in Harrisonville. She was a very loving and supportive Mother, always being very involved in her girl's lives. When Toni and Shannon moved to Oklahoma, her and Hugh burnt up the road between Harrisonville and Tulsa for several years. However, once the apple of her eye, her granddaughter, Bayleigh was born; it did not take long for them to relocate to Oklahoma to be with their girls. Barb and Bayleigh became best friends and that continued until she passed away. No one could make her light up when they walked in the room like Bayleigh. While living on the Cobb Compound, Shannon snared a fellow, Martin, from Arkansas that fit right into our family since he was a Razorback. Barbara was especially happy because now she had another handy man to help Hugh out on all of her projects she dreamed up. Barbara loved working in her yard; and she worked very hard to make her yard and home look like a Better Homes & Gardens special.
Her family will miss seeing those beautiful blue eyes and that wonderful smile. She will be missed. "So, when tomorrow starts without me don't think we're far apart, for every time you think of me, I'm right here in your heart."
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 11:00 am at Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, MO, with the visitation beginning at 10:00 am.