LOEL BARBER

Services for Loel Barber, 90, of Kilgore will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 4, 2009, at the First Presbyterian Church with Reverend Polly Williams officiating. Burial will follow in Kilgore Memorial Gardens Cemetery. She died the way she was born - at home Friday, July 31, 2009, surrounded by people who cherished her. A pioneer woman would never ask for more than that.

She was born at home to E.E. and Lora McKnight on January 16, 1919, in Brown County, Texas. Loel was raised in West Texas. Her paternal great-grandmother received a land grant from the Republic of Texas, and instilled in her daughters and granddaughters the spirit to make the best of what was. Hard times taught them unequalled survival skills, the value of saving everything from a rusty nail to a tablespoon of leftovers wrapped up in tin foil. You just never know, she might say.

The former Miss Avoca met and married W.S. "Bull" Barber, a handsome, smooth-talking roustabout, and they settled in Kilgore to raise a family. She did that, too, like she gardened: trusting the seed, the soil, praying for a bit of rain, and filling in the gaps with hard work. There was always plenty of food on the table for whatever unannounced guest arrived with her husband, even during the lean years. She never made a fuss, but would just get on with it.

She had a dry, keen wit which needed no applause. Until the last, there were pockets of mirth, scattered like seeds; she still knew the value of constant sowing.

The last decade of her life was one marked with adventure and personal growth: she camped out on the beach in the Dry Tortugas; went mountain climbing in Colorado; learned to snorkel at the age of 85. Even the day before she died, she was out checking her cows, sipping red wine.

She leaves to her family pioneer values: to some, a green thumb; to others, a gritty determination to overcome; to still others, grace, poise and quiet composure befitting royalty; to all, a love and commitment to family and an appreciation for good cornbread. She left us a life rich in love and happy memories.

Mrs. Barber is survived by two daughters, Beverly Russell of Kilgore and Shari Solomon of Washington, D.C., and grandchildren from all walks of life - a rancher, a farmer, a teacher, an architect, lawyer, an artist, a doctor; eight grandchildren, Brad Russell of Dallas, Alice Adams of Kilgore, Patrick Russell of Adelaide, South Australia, Lane Barber of Fouke, Arkansas, Loren Barber of Fouke Arkanas, Clayton Solomon of Miami, Florida, Feliz Solomon of Brooklyn, New York, Matt Solomon of San Antonio; several great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. All will miss her dearly.

Preceded in death by a set of twins who died at birth; her husband, ten years ago, W. S. "Bull" Barber; and most recently, an only son, Bradford "Buddy" Barber.

The family will receive friends at Rader Funeral Home Monday evening between 6 and 8 p.m.

Please leave online condolences www.Raderfuneralhome.c om