Barbara was born on August 12, 1935 in Briartown, OK to Nell and Thayer Farthing. Thayer died in service during WWII. Barbara was raised by Nell and Henry Blake from the age of 2. She graduated in 1953 from Enid High School. Barb went on to attend Oklahoma State University (Oklahoma A&M) where she earned an Executive Secretary Degree. One special night at Oklahoma State, the phone at Stout Hall rang. It was a young man named Richard Bogert, calling from the Beta House. Bogert recognized Barb’s name as a fellow Enid High graduate. The two went out on a coke date and the rest was history. Barb & Dick were married on December 19, 1954, and enjoyed sixty-five years of marriage.
Barbara had many interests and community involvements. Her hobbies through her life included Tole art, bowling, golf, bridge, shopping trips to Neiman Marcus, and tennis. Tennis was her last and longest hobby, spanning over 30 years and creating many dear friendships. Barbara was also involved in the community as an active member of OIPA Wives Club, PTA, Lyric Theatre Board, The Chariteers, LTA of Quail Creek Country Club, and two book clubs.
Barb was a generous, kind, and loving matriarch. She was an incredible homemaker and wife. She was the “heart” of her family. She instilled a love of Christmas in all of her family, with beautiful decorations, table settings, gift giving, and the highly anticipated Christmas Cookie Baking Day tradition. The family has a saying, “you always leave Barb’s house with more than you came with.” The family has been blessed with Barb as their mother and grandmother who made sure that she always left them with more: more kindness, more generosity, and more love.
Barbara is preceded in death by her parents Nell and Henry Blake and her sister Nancy Mosher. She is survived by her husband Richard “Dick” Dale Bogert, their children Karen Louise Stewart of Buda, TX, Richard “Andy” Andrew Bogert and wife, Vicki of Oklahoma City, OK and Jennifer Lyn Holmes of Oklahoma City, OK. Her nine grandchildren Brian, Justin, Jarrod, Katie, Brett, Kelsey, Zachary, Brooke, and Maddie and one great grandchild, Madison who affectionately called her “Barboo.”
A viewing and visitation will be held at Hahn-Cook/Street-Draper in Oklahoma City, OK on March 15, 2020 from 4:00 – 6:00pm. Memorial Service celebrating Barb’s life will be held at Crossings Community Church in the Chapel on March 16, 2020 at 11:00am with Pastor Michael Milligan officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Oklahoma.
To donate to the tribute page, search for “Alzhemier’s Associate Tribute Pages”, click find a tribute, and search “Barbara Bogert” to find her page.
The family would like to thank her wonderful caregivers, Traci Walters, Comfort Adesida, Yokie Billimont, and Alexandria Jackson.
