Barbara Harrell

Barbara Jo “Bobbie” Barnes Harrell was born on July 29, 1933 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; she gained her Angel wings on May 15, 2015.

Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, at OakCrest Funeral Home with Rev. Terry Graham officiating. A private interment at Waco Memorial Park will precede the service.

Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Boulevard.

Bobbie was born to Johnny B. Barnes and Lillian Darnold Barnes. She graduated from Waco High School in 1950. Bobbie attended Baylor University where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Bobbie was in one of the first nursing programs at Baylor. After graduating from Baylor in 1954, Bobbie worked at the VA Hospital in Waco as a Registered Nurse. Bobbie married John T. “Tommy” Harrell in December 1954. They met in high school and dated while both were attending Baylor University. Bobbie and Tommy had two children, John D. Harrell and Dana D. Harrell.

In her free time, you could find her out in the garden. There was not a flower that she did not know the name of, and she loved to have blooming flowers in her yard year round. About a month before going into the hospital, she was outside digging a hole for a new plant. When she was inside the house, she loved to do crossword puzzles, needlepoint, and was an avid reader of mystery books. Bobbie also loved to paint and painted many paintings that can be found hanging inside her children’s homes. Those who knew Bobbie knew her love of cats as evidenced by the many stained glass pieces and windows that decorate her home.

Bobbie was a member of the Four Seasons Garden Club and the Oasis Sunday School Class at First Baptist Church in Woodway. She was also a member of Bunco Babes and her Keno group. Bobbie was an avid Baylor Lady Bear fan and traveled with the team a few times, which was a big highlight for her. One item that was checked off her Bucket List was a Panama Canal Cruise that was taken with her daughter, Dana, and best friend, Darryl Neumann. We will never forget our butler.

Bobbie loved Blue Grass music and missed traveling with her husband in their motor home and attending Blue Grass Festivals the most. While in the hospital bed, Bobbie began tapping her foot to some music only she could hear. The family is sure that her husband, who preceded her in death in 2007, was serenading her with his guitar and a Willie Nelson song.

The most important people to Bobbie were her family. They are her son, John and his wife, Carol; her daughter, Dana; her grandson, Jason Muchow and his fiancé, Patty Garza; her granddaughter, Morgen and her husband, Beau DeFore; her furry companion, Daisy Mae; and 2 granddogs, CoCo and MiMi.

The Family would like to thank the CICU Unit at Baylor Scott & White in Temple for their compassionate care of both Bobbie and her family.

The family would like to thank longtime family friend and adopted daughter, Melody M. Middaugh, for all the assistance she has given our family through the years, especially in our times of need.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Baylor Women’s Basketball Excellence Fund at Baylor University, c/o Women’s Basketball, 1900 South University Parks Drive, Waco, Texas, 76706 or Baylor University School of Nursing, 3700 Worth Street, Dallas, Texas, 75246 or the charity of your choice.