Betty Lou Barnes

     Betty Barnes, 89, passed away on October 13, 2022, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She was born January 6, 1933 during the Depression in Boley, Oklahoma in a little run down house. Her parents were Bertha REDDING and Willam “Buck” Main. Betty was named after her great grandmother Elizabeth Redding who was called Betty. Her middle name came from her grandmother Luraney Main who was called Lou. Several years later Betty’s family moved to Tuttle. Weston, her one year old baby brother passed away before they moved to Tuttle. While in Tuttle her remaining four siblings were born.

     Betty described herself when growing up as being inquisitive, daring, mischievous, and she would jokingly say she was a little bossy. Being the oldest of seven siblings she remembered taking her younger sister to school one day and cutting her hair, eyelashes and eyebrows. Other antics involved locking all of them out of the house and eating a homemade concoction of milk, chocolate and sugar teasing them by eating it in front of them. One day she thought she was very creative by building a fireplace in the chicken coop until the coop burned down. She didn’t know a fireplace needed a chimney flu. As a teenager she imagined Roy Rogers was her boyfriend after attending movies at the Tuttle’s movie theater. Her mind was always busy. She worked hard on her various chores but remembers having fun playing in the creek. She also enjoyed riding her horse, Shorty, and was very devastated when her daddy sold him after she was bucked off. She made life fun and through the years her brothers and sisters remained very close and she loved them dearly along with their spouses.

     As a child, she attended Beaver Creek School, a one room schoolhouse that she walked to with all the other students. She seemed to always get in trouble with her teacher because her of curiosity and feistiness. Verle was four grades ahead of her and she remembers being aggravated at him when he would not choose her for ciphering (arithmetic) matches because of her young age. However, when she was in the eighth grade, she would claim to be the smartest in her class because there were only two of them.

     Beaver Creek only went to the eighth grade. Her first day riding to Tuttle High School, as a Freshman, she met her lifelong friend, Anna Jenell Hardesty Campbell never knowing their kids would marry and they would share five grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

     She graduated High School in May 1950 and shortly after began to date Verle when she was attending Draughn Business School in Oklahoma City. She lived with a couple and he was in involved in the oil business. She was given room and board for answering their phone.

     Betty and Verle began to date that June and by December 23, 1950 they got married in a parsonage by Reverend W.L. Hart in Edmond, Oklahoma. They didn’t have a church wedding because she knew her dad did not have a good cotton crop and she didn’t feel she should ask. She was seventeen and he was twenty- one years of age.

In 1952, Verle and Betty moved to the place they lovingly called the Old Home Place, a four-room house in the Amber area. Supplementing their income Betty would help out by milking cows by hand and gathering the eggs. The cream from the milk and the eggs were to be sold. She did this while Verle farmed and did odd jobs.

     Two years to the date of their wedding anniversary Terri Lynn was born December 23, 1952 and five years later, Rhonda Gail was born August 3, 1957.

     In 1964, they moved back to their hometown Tuttle where they built a nice brick home much larger than the four-room house in which they were living. They lived in this house for 50 years. After retirement they decided to move into town and built the house where they lived the remainder of their lives. Betty and Verle were married 67 years.

     She enjoyed traveling and spending time with her daughters and their families. Betty was a good helpmate all the years her and Verle were farming wheat and cotton. She would help by driving tractors, wheat trucks and pulling cotton trailers. She faithfully prepared lunches and water jugs for Verle and his hired hands. She was known for her sweet smile and hugs and kisses.  

     Betty was saved on November 14, 1948 at the age of fifteen and served the Lord by teaching multiple Sunday School and Bible School classes, and serving along with Verle as a Deacon’s wife. They were known to be very hospitable by opening their home to church members for after church fellowships and having Sunday school parties. They also were very involved with Tuesday night visitation and were faithful by visiting the sick.

    Betty’s favorite bible verses are

    Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great        is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23.

    For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the LORD,” plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope      and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

     Betty is preceded in death by her parents Bertha and Buck Main; husband of 64 years Verle Barnes; baby brother Weston Main; brother Billy Main; sister Pat Hatcher and husband Nolan; sister Joy Plumlee and husband Vernon; brother Bobby Main and brother in law Jerry Autry.

     She is survived by her daughter Terri Henry and husband David; daughter Gail Campbell and husband Jerry; five grandchildren: granddaughter Angela Vanek and Christian Vogel; grandson Brent Henry and wife Angela; granddaughter Crystal Neasbitt and husband Ryan; grandson Jesse Campbell and wife Ashley; grandson Jeremy Campbell and wife Brooke; 13 great grandchildren Isabel and Alivia Vanek; Preston Cox; Kimberlyn and Kaileigh Henry; Justice, Austin and Natalie Neasbitt; Kinley, Case and Kately Campbell; Londyn and Kamdyn Campbell; sister Jane Streber and husband Troy; sister Sue Autry; sister in law Rita Main and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.