Barbara Ann Karickhoff

Barbara Ann Lyons Karickhoff was born May 14, 1931 in Lansing, Michigan, and move to Memphis as a child. An accomplished student, she graduated in 1949 from Central High School. Fondness for science pushed her to graduate from Michigan State College with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture and Applied Science. While attending, she met and married James (Jim) Karickhoff, and had two children, Steven Edward and Ellen Louise, and completed a Masters of Arts degree at Memphis State University in 1958.

Barbara became a teacher in the Memphis school system at Avon Elementary, White Station Elementary, and then Hamilton High School. She was a member of the American Business Women's Association, and at one time, President of the local Cotton Belles Chapter. She continued her education at Memphis State receiving an Education Specialists degree in 1978, and a Doctorate of Education in 1982. She was accepted as member of the Lambda Gamma Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi - Honor Society in Education.

Although qualified to be a principal, her love of students and teaching pushed her to work in a variety of ways, including Science Olympiad, Computer Education/Labs, Science Mobile, and being an avid sports fan, working with the Hamilton High School Wildcats Cheerleaders until her retirement in 1995.

She was an amazing gardener, as her yard will attest, and spent years working on the family genealogy, becoming friends with extended family all over the globe. She enjoyed traveling and bringing her love of new places to her students and family.

An active member of Second Presbyterian Church and until recently a very active member of the seniors group until ill health kept her away, Barbara continued to worship via the television outreach program, and appreciated visits from church members and staff.

Ms. Karickhoff died on Saturday, December 7, 2013 and is survived by her son, Steven Karickhoff, nieces and nephews, Joyce & Patrick McTigue, Pamella Lyons, Jeannine Lyons, Frank & GayLynn Lyons, and Great and Great Great nieces and nephews, Cynthia & Greg McGowen, John & Pierce McGowen, Deborah & Norman Davis, Hannah Davis, Frank & Megan Lyons, Matthew & Katy Lyons, and the newest, Cooper Lee Lyons.

Her family will receive guests and friends on Saturday, December 14 from nine thirty in the morning until funeral services begin at eleven o’clock all at Memphis Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens located at 5599 Poplar Avenue, Memphis, TN 38119. Burial will follow in Memphis Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Memphis Funeral Home