Barbara Lou Harvison

Barbara Lou Harvison, age 90, passed from this life to her heavenly home on August 10, 2022. She was born in Electra, Texas on October 6, 1931, to James Leslie Pitt and Iris Leona Kennedy Pitt. She graduated from Denton High School in 1949 where she was fifth chair orchestra and in the Pep Club. Her favorite songs were Blue Moon and Shoo Fly Pie, which depicted her playful, romantic spirit. She was always described as sweet, precious, kind, loving, generous, selfless and empathetic. While attending North Texas State University, she worked in the campus library. She married Scott Mollard in 1951 in Sherman, Texas, where they made their home until moving to Grand Prairie. Barbara was a member of the Grand Prairie Garden Club, United Methodist Women at Inglewood Methodist Church, Girl Scouts leader for several years and an officer in the Ben Milam Elementary PTA. Her later spiritual affiliations include membership at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Garland, Buckingham Methodist Church of Garland and most recently Big Springs Baptist Church in Richardson.

When their kids were all elementary-school age, Barbara commuted to North Texas State University to complete her education. She lacked one semester when she was widowed with four children under 12 years old. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education and then began her teaching career in Hurst Euless Bedford ISD. She remarried Jack Harvison in 1968 and they moved to Odessa, Texas for one year and then lived in Tulsa, Oklahoma for two years before returning to the DFW area to be near family. She furthered her education with a Masters’ Degree in Reading Education also from North Texas. She taught one year at HEB ISD, two years in Claremore, OK Public Schools and then 19 years at Garland ISD, for a total of 22 years. Her patience was definitely exhibited working with up to 22 4th graders each year. Her service at Garland ISD is commemorated with a memorial brick at the Garland ISD Culberson Center. Barbara and Jack were married 27 years, and then she was widowed a second time. Upon retirement, she traveled extensively with the Richland College Emeritus travel group, took two cruises and was involved in many clubs and organizations (Keno group, Canasta group, birthday club, and women’s Bible Study groups to name a few). She loved spending time with her family, visiting with her large group of friends and attending local theater performances. She volunteered in several capacities and was awarded Volunteer of the Year at Buckingham United Methodist Church New Beginnings Center in 1998-99.

Her life will be honored and celebrated on Friday, August 19 at 10:00 a.m. at Sparkman-Crane Funeral Home in Dallas, Texas. Visitation will be Thursday, August 18, 2022 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m., also at the Sparkman-Crane facility.

Barbara was predeceased by her parents, her two husbands, her two sisters: Leslie Leona Scheible, brother-in-law Walter Scheible, Eleanor (Tony) Quinton and her son in law Jimmy Branch. Left to cherish her memory are her children: Leta Cato, Carolyn Branch (Ike) Mercer, Cindy Garza (Jay Hamaker) and Larry Mollard (Oanh Nguyen). She was honored with six grandchildren Rusty (Kari) Branch, Kimberly Branch, Spencer (Staci) Branch, Gregg (Ellen) Cato, Stephanie (Jason) Crownover and Jennifer (Dale) Gray. She was also blessed with 12 great grandchildren: Bree Brackney, Skylar Smith, Kolby Branch, Kyle Branch, Cason Canafax, Stormi Branch, Carson Branch, Cooper Branch, Jensen Crownover, Grayson Crownover, Ethan Gray, Hanna Cato and baby boy Cato due in December, 2022. Her close-knit family also includes 3 nieces: Jan (Ken) Fletcher, Judy (Ed) Malone and Beth (Randy) Kerr and 3 nephews: Hank (Lyn) Scheible, Billy (Yolanda) Scheible and Guy (Jessica) Beeman.