Texie Christina Barber

Texie Christina Armatage Barber, 104, of Eaton went to be with her Lord on November 26, 2016 at Grace Pointe Senior Care Center. She was born May 8, 1912 to William and Texie Armatage in Eaton where she grew up and graduated from high school. After graduating from what is now the University of Northern Colorado she began teaching in the Eaton Elementary School where she enjoyed the classroom for 43 years mostly in the fourth grade. She also played for many operettas during that time. At one point she, her mother Texie, and her sister Ila were all teaching in the same elementary school building. During World War II she taught one year in the Englewood Schools and during that time married Lamar “Bill” Williams. They were later divorced. On December 25, 1949 she married Kenneth Barber in the Eaton Congregational Church. He passed away in 1973.

Upon her retirement from teaching in 1978, she began a new career as the pianist at Furr’s Cafeteria in Greeley where she played several times a week. She made many friends there and continued this enjoyable season of her life for 15 years.

Texie came from a very musical family and she was given much musical talent. At the age of 15 she began playing the piano for the silent theater in town for $1.25 a night. Later, she was a soloist and pianist for two dance bands and had a musical radio program at KFKF with two other young women. Her passion for her church included being the pianist and organist there for over 60 years, playing Pomp and Circumstance at Eaton High School graduations for more than 30 years, and was one of the pianists for Allnutt Mortuary into her 80’s. She and one of her best high school friends wrote the words and music for the Eaton High School school song which is still in use. In 1977 and in 1995 she was honored to be the Grand Marshall for the Eaton Community Days celebrations.

Her memberships included the Eaton Congregational Church where she was a member for 91 years, the Eaton Historical Society, Eaton Pioneer Society, Eaton Golden Association, 50 year Honorary member of the Eaton Music Club, Chapter AB-PEO, and the Weld County Retired Teachers Association. Texie loved to travel especially to Virginia to visit where her mother grew up and brother Keith lived. She loved Eaton, music, teaching and most of all she loved the Lord and her family.

We want to thank the Grace Pointe staff and Hospice for their wonderful care given to Texie during her time at Grace Pointe. We also want to thank Lydia Mares and her daughter Angie for the many years of assistance and friendship given to Texie.

Texie is survived by her son, David Barber and his wife Marilyn of Eaton; grandson Christopher Barber and his wife Jamie of Erie; granddaughter Sherrie Schmidke and her husband Michael of Eaton; great grandchildren Sophie, Brooks and Colton Barber, and Dillyn and Dayne Schmidke; niece Mildred Bay (Marvin) of Galeton; nephews George Nelson (Betty) of Wiggins; and Richard Nelson (Christine) of Nashville, TN.

Texie was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Barber; her parents; sister Ila Nelson; and brother Keith Armatage.

Interment will be at the Eaton Cemetery at 1:00 P.M., Friday, December 2, 2016. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, December 2, 2016 at the First Congregational Church of Eaton/Ault, 325 Second Street, Eaton, CO.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to First Congregational Church of Eaton/Ault Building Fund, 325 Second Street, Eaton, CO, 80615 or in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 702 13th Street, Greeley, CO 80631. Friends may view the online obituary and send condolences at www.allnutt.com.