The Woodward News

Obituaries

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  • Letta Mae Briles Barby

    Letta Mae Briles Barby
July 3, 2012

Letta Mae Briles Barby

Woodward News

Woodward, Okla. — Letta Mae Briles Barby was born on July 24, 1925 in a farm home in Dombey, Oklahoma. She was the youngest of 7 siblings born to her father Lon Harrison Briles and her mother Elsie Alice Briles. The family later moved to Liberal, KS were Mae attended McDermott grade school. Her fondest memories of growing up in Liberal were times spend with her brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts and uncles out on the farm during the holidays and summer time. After a winter spent in Oregon during the Great  Depression Era, in an attempt to help Mae re-cooperate from dust pneumonia, the family moved to Adams, OK where Letta Mae would finish her grade school and high school education. Mae was involved in all sports throughout her adolescence and greatly excelled in basketball.



After graduating high school in Adams she worked at a doctor's clinic in Liberal, KS. Shortly after her work in the doctor's clinic she attended summer school at Panhandle A&M in Goodwell, OK. Later she decided to go to business school at Salt City in Hutchinson, KS. After meriting her diploma she worked for the Reno County Commissioners for two years and then returned to Liberal, KS to work as a secretary for a certified public accountant.



She was married to Jack Lollar, January 21, 1951 at Union Center Church near Adams, OK. Eleven years later a daughter Jacquelyn Charmaine was born, September 13, 1962. They made their home in Liberal until Mae returned to college in 1968 to pursue a degree in elementary education. After attaining her degree she taught 1st and 2nd grade in Gate, OK from 1971 to 1980. She fondly remembered her students and her career as a teacher and took great joy in keeping up with the progress in her students lives as they grew into adults.



While teaching in Gate, Mae met and later fell in love with Paul W. Barby and they were married August 9, 1980. After marrying Paul she retired from teaching and began a new chapter of life with her  husband. They settled on a ranch near Knowles, OK where Paul and his brother Fred continued to maintain their family ranch. Paul and Mae were named farm family of the year in 1988 by the Beaver County Farm Bureau. Later that same year their first grandchild Danielle Dezort was born, August 30, 1988 to parents Chris and Jackie Dezort. 6 years later in January of 1995 their second and final grandchild was born, a baby boy Reagan Paul Dezort.



Mae loved spending time with her two grandchildren and dedicated much of her life to keeping up with their many activities. She also loved to cook, garden and entertain guests in her home. She was such a warm and giving woman full of faith and generosity. Her kindness and desire to give was an example to all those who knew her. If it was by means of preparing a warm home cooked meal for her family or lending her ear to a friend in need, Mae was always willing to give of herself and care for her loved ones. She loved the Lord with all of her heart and her desire to serve Him was an inspiration to many.

Her generosity and love were felt by all who knew her and those she leaves behind are forever changed by the impact she made upon their lives.



Letta Mae Briles Barby went to be with her heavenly Father on Friday, June 29, 2012. Services will be held at the Church of the Nazarene, Knowles, Oklahoma, on Tuesday, July 3, 2012 at 10:00 a.m.



Those preceding Mae in passing were her parents, Lon and Elsie Briles, two infant brothers, brothers, Clyde Briles, Forrest Briles and Clellie Briles, sisters, Lucille Potter, Matilda McAdams and Mildred Barby, brothers and sisters-in-law, and many relatives and family.



She leaves to honor her memory, her husband Paul W. Barby of Knowles, OK, daughter Jackie Dezort; husband Chris Dezort, granddaughter Danielle Dezort and grandson Reagan Dezort all of Woodward, OK. She also leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

 

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Obituaries
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    In Memory of
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    May 10, 2013 1 Photo