Roberta Grace Peterson Barrier

Roberta Grace Peterson Barrier, 78, of Port Lavaca passed away peacefully on April 6, 2011 at the age of 78, surrounded by family. She was born May 2, 1932, in Olivia to Ola Mae Huddleston Peterson and the late Oscar Alvin Peterson. She graduated as valedictorian from Palacios High School in 1949. She began her career at Bauer Smith Dredging Company and spent several years at First State Bank and Trust Company where she forged many friendships that were to last a lifetime. She left the bank to raise her family before returning to work in the 1980’s at Formosa Plastics Corporation before retiring from STP Nuclear Plant as a Cost Controller. She was admired and respected by all who knew her and was a positive influence to many of the young men and women she had the opportunity to work with through the years. She was a faithful member of the Port Lavaca Church of Christ, finding tremendous joy in service to others. She was also a member of the Calhoun County Quilt Guild where she was able to share her love for heirloom sewing. Her legacy will continue through the many lives she touched and example instilled in others. Her greatest desire was for her family to be faithful to the Lord and glorify Him throughout their lives.

She is survived by her mother; daughter, Starla Robin Barrier Mehaffey; sons, David Earl Barrier and Daniel Wayne Barrier; brother, Robert Marvin Peterson; grandchildren, Jonathan Barrier, Eric Barrier, Garrett Barrier, Austin Cox, McKenna Cox and Jessica Barrier and one great-grandchild. She spent the last four months of her life in Utah with Starla and her family and visiting specialists at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center. She enjoyed every minute of her visit, but was ready to return home.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Earl “Sonny” Barrier; father and brother, David Alvin Peterson.

Visitation will be held Saturday, April 9, 2011, from 6-8 p.m. at Richardson-Colonial Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be Sunday, April 10, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. at the Port Lavaca Church of Christ, Shan Jackson officiating. Interment will follow in Olivia Cemetery. Lunch will be served at the church for friends and family.

Pallbearers are Allen Abraham, Dale Abraham, Paul Abraham, Wayne Abraham, Austin Cox, Dallis Douglas, Walter Rosenbrock, Gerald Griffith, Mike McGuire, Kenneth Peterson and Tommy Pilgrim.

Honorary Pallbearers Dr. Paul Bunnell, Charles Crutcher, Rick Gangluff, James McSpadden, Michael Moore, Paul Poston, Edwin Simons, Milam Simons, and Tom Underwood.

Memorial donations may be made to Huntsman Cancer Foundation @ www.huntsmancancerfoundation.org or call 801-584-5816. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.richardsoncolonial.com.