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Funeral celebration of life services for Billie Jean Barker, 76, who passed away unexpectedly at her home Sunday, July 10, 2016, will be held 10 a.m. Thursday, July 14, at Lenox United Methodist Church. Visitation will be held at the Lenox Community Center from 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 13, with family greeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Interment will be held in North Fairview Cemetery in Lenox. Instead of flowers, the family requests memorials be given in Billie Jean's name. Memories may be left at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home, 124 S. Main St., in Lenox.
Billie Jean was the youngest of Wilma (Woods) and Evan Brannon’s three children. She was born Aug. 24, 1939, on a farm north of Lenox. Billie Jean began elementary school in Rich Hill, Missouri. Her family moved to Diagonal in 1950, where she continued her schooling through her sophomore year of high school. The Brannon family eventually settled in Lenox, and Billie Jean finished her final two years of school at Lenox High School, graduating with the class of 1957. She then headed to Des Moines for her first job opportunity.
Billie Jean first caught Lonnie’s eye at a Lenox High School basketball game in the old gymnasium when he was home from college for the weekend. She was looking mighty fine in a snazzy red sweater, and he knew right then and there, he would have to get in contact with that gal in the red sweater. After an initial stumble, the romance grew, and on Flag Day, June 14, 1958, Lonnie proposed. To his surprise, Billie accepted the proposal by saying, “Yes - and I don’t believe in long engagements. Do you?” The couple married on Oct. 4 - less than four months after Lonnie’s proposal.
The happy couple welcomed their first child, Lahni Jean (1960), followed by Todd Brannon (1962) and Lisa Ann (1966). Billie Jean was a stay-at-home mom while her children were young and eventually began helping Lonnie by keeping the books for the family business, Barker Implement. She continued to work alongside her husband until they both retired in 2015.
Billie Jean was an incredible cook and was famous for her ability to put together “awesome” meals at the spur of the moment for friends and sometimes extra guests brought to the house by Lonnie, her kids and even her grandkids. One of the favorite traditions she shared with her grandkids and their friends when they reached high school age was the “Friday Morning Breakfast Club.” BJ and Lonnie were like a second set of grandparents to their grandkids’ friends, always making them feel right at home. They would all meet at Grandma’s house at 7:30 a.m. and be treated to a special breakfast before heading off to school. Holiday gatherings were always looked forward to as she always prepared the traditional meal with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and scalloped corn.
Grandma BJ’s homemade pizza became everyone’s family favorite, especially the Saturday night before Easter. Everyone will tell you that she made the best homemade pizza crust in the world, which she learned from her brother, Donn. She never told us exactly how she made it or let any of us to help her prepare it. We suspect that she didn’t use a set recipe, but somehow her crust turned out perfect every single time. And we can’t forget Grandma’s best-ever chili.
BJ was also a talented artist and enjoyed drawing, painting and using her creative skills on anything from costumes to birthday party favors to floats for the Rodeo Parade. She enjoyed her flower beds and vegetable garden, later canning and freezing her harvest to share with others. She also enjoyed sewing, making prom dresses (which she may be hemming a few minutes before the date arrived), bridesmaid dresses and she even sewed her own wedding dress. She also made beautiful baby quilts for each of her grandchildren.
Her church and her community were very important to Billie Jean. She served as the Lenox Methodist Church choir director for many years, and she and Marilyn Beck sang at over 200 funerals. She was also very active in the Methodist Church Women’s Circle. 4-H was a big part of her life, as she was a 4-H leader for 20 years. She and Lonnie were big supporters of Taylor County 4-H’ers over the years. They served on the Taylor County Extension Council and were instrumental in raising funds for constructing the “Red Barn” for the fairgrounds. She was a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, Lenox Library Board and the Park and Pool Board. One job they particularly enjoyed for more than 15 years was spreading cheer as Santa and Mrs. Claus during the carnival and lighting ceremony kicking off the holiday season.
They also continued to be great supporters of our high school fine arts and athletic programs, even after their own children and grandchildren had graduated. She and Lonnie were rewarded the Lenox Boosters Award in 2005 and the Lenox Citizen of the year award in 2016 honoring support they have given through the years.
In 1972, she and Lonnie sang with the “Lentennialaires” to promote Lenox’s upcoming Centennial Celebration and performed all over southwest Iowa. They also enjoyed playing cards on Sunday night for more than 50 years with a group of great friends.
Most important to Billie Jean was her family. She was fiercely proud of each of her children and grandchildren and was very supportive of their activities. She and Lonnie rarely missed any of the kids’ events – their calendar was filled with band and vocal concerts, dance recitals, speech contests, school plays and athletic events. Billie’s marriage to Lonnie was rock-solid; they truly enjoyed each other’s company, sweethearts to the end. They were blessed to have 57 years together.
Billie Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Evan and Wilma Brannon; sister Beverly Hanes; brother-in-law Kenneth Hanes; brother-in-law Elvis Mendenhall; infant grandsons, Michael and Jordan Robinson; nephew Tony Hanes and nieces; Donita Evans, Penny (Hanes) Helland and Sherri (Barker) Daun.
She is survived by her husband Lonnie; daughter Lahni Jean (Pat) Robinson of Lenox; son Todd (Meg) Barker of Lenox; daughter Lisa (Rod) Maharry of Des Moines; brother Donald (Deborra) Brannon of Weed, California; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Elene (Duane) Heeren of Huxley, Justine Mendenhall of Prescott, Arizona, Kevin (Millie) Barker of Lenox and William (Becky) Barker of Creston; 11 grandchildren, Jared (Kristen) Robinson of Lenox, Dara (Kellen) Sherburne of Des Moines, Seth (Anne) Robinson of Waukee, Nathan Barker of Smithville, Missouri, Drew Barker of Humboldt, Brenna Robinson of Des Moines, Morgan, Colton and Cade Maharry of Des Moines, Katie Barker of Ames and Sydney Barker of Ames; great-grandchild Reid Sherburne; 14 nieces and nephews and the many friends, young and old, who were such an important part of her life.
Billie Jean will be remembered for her ready smile, her quick wit, and for being sassy, classy and a bit stubborn all at the same time!
Most of all, she will be remembered for her generosity and for how she was always caring for others.
She will be dearly missed, not only by her family and close friends, but by all those in the Lenox community - young and old - whose lives she touched.