Barbara Dell Barnhart

Barbara Dell Williams Barnhart left this world and became a Christmas angel on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2021, which was fitting because of her love for the Christmas season.  Barbara was born in Ardmore, Oklahoma in 1936 to the late Wiley and Lillie Mae Williams.  The family moved to Gainesville in 1944.

Barbara graduated from Gainesville High School in 1954.  After high school graduation, she worked at Frank Dustin Office Supply and Linda Jo Shoe company as an office assistant.  She moved to Dallas and worked at Frito Lay as an accounting clerk.  In 1963 she married her high school sweetheart, H. Mack Barnhart, whom she met in 1953 when the senior girls taught the sophomore boys how to dance.  They lived in Dallas while Mack completed SMU Law School and, while in Dallas, had their first-born daughter Pepper.  They returned to Gainesville in 1968 where Mack joined a law firm and their second daughter Brandi was born.

Barbara was an active member in First Christian Church Gainesville where she served as a Sunday school teacher and on many committees.  She was co-owner of the Kinder Kloset in downtown Gainesville where she enjoyed being a part of the merchant community.  She was a lifelong antique lover and collector and she made many cherished friends searching for the perfect treasure.  She never passed up a good estate, yard or garage sale.

Mrs. Barnhart was an avid reader and loved to travel everywhere.  Some of her fondest memories were vacationing with her family in Colorado.  She lived a beautiful life as a mother and homemaker, and loved working in her yard, decorating for holidays, and cooking for her family.  Barbara will be remembered for her complete devotion to her family; her strong character, moral compass, sharp wit, playful sense of humor and, most of all, her gentle grace.

Barbara is survived by her husband of 58 years H. Mack Barnhart of Gainesville; her daughter Pepper and husband Scotty MacLean of Fort Worth; daughter Brandi and husband Barry Biffle, of Niwot, CO.  She is also survived by three grandsons:  Turner MacLean, Mack MacLean, and Banks Biffle.  Barbara also leaves behind brothers John Williams and wife Barbara of Gainesville and Tommy Williams of Plano; sisters Martha and husband Bill Perryman of Gainesville and Linda and the late Scotty Weathersby of Sherman, in addition to many nieces and nephews.

Memorial service honoring Barbara Barnhart will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, December 30, 2021, First Christian Church, Gainesville.  A time of visitation will be held following the service in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Raymond Barnhart Lecture Series at the First Christian Church, 401 North Dixon, Gainesville, TX 76240 or Home Hospice of Cooke County, PO Box 936, Gainesville TX 76240.