Barbara Fugate Dean

Born on October 25, 1931 in Evans, CO; passed on November 17, 2023 in Weatherford, TX, surrounded by love.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband Alan Hamilton Dean and her eldest son Michael Alan Dean; by her parents James Reginald Fugate, Myrtle May Gregory Fugate; and siblings Eva McConnell, Lonnie Fugate, Miriam Greene, unnamed twins lost at childbirth, Ruth Van Why, Jim Fugate, Ben Fugate, Bernice Fugate, Richard Dale Fugate, Jacqueline Brehm, and Alice Swetzig. The family learned later that their true family name was “Douglas” with some interesting Scottish/Irish heritage, but that was long after the Fugate name had already been passed on. Barbara is survived by sons Thomas Robert (Denise) and Steven James (Carol), daughter Janice Lianne, and daughter-in-law Gail Lynn (Michael Alan). Her legacy extends to ten grandchildren (Jared, Kendal, Alex, Colin, Carrie, Kelsey, Jamie, Macye, Erin, and Bryan) and 18 great-grandchildren.

Barbara’s family extends heartfelt gratitude to the loving care communities who supported Barbara and her children through her long journey with dementia at Poet’s Walk in San Antonio, TX, and West Fork Memory Care in Weatherford, TX. Their genuine love for Barbara shone through in all they did.

Barbara’s love of the outdoors was forged early through many adventures to camp, explore, play hooky, and bask in the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains. Bi-annual Fugate/Douglas family reunions were often held in those mountains and continue to this day as a tribute to this wonderful family. In her twenties, Barbara moved to El Paso, TX to help her brother and his wife care for their small children, was hired as a secretary to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas Western College (now UTEP), met a brilliant handsome student named Alan Dean, and they married in 1953. Together they raised their four children: Mike, Tom, Steve, and Jan, and made sure they knew their extended families’ histories and lore, showed them how to explore nature’s beauty, and encouraged them to find their own passions in life. Barbara was the rock that Alan relied upon as he pursued his career in the golden age of aerospace, and their devotion to each other never wavered. Barbara was very involved in the activities of her children and was also very active in her own interests – playing golf, bridge club, growing award-winning roses, exploring her creativity along many channels, and maintaining lifelong friendships.

After working full-time to raise her family, Barbara embarked on a new career, taking night school courses to update her skills. In 1974, Barbara was hired by Southwest Research Institute, where she worked for 16 years supporting proposals, projects, and administration of research, test and evaluation activities in the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering division. Alan was the rock that Barbara relied upon as she pursued her career, ever devoted to her success and growth.

Alan’s love of being on or near the water expanded Barbara’s outdoor explorations further, and the family enjoyed many adventures at Medina Lake, the Gulf Coast, sailing to Catalina Island with Alan’s extended family, and an epic boat tour of the Pacific Northwest up to Princess Louisa Inlet. Upon retirement, Barbara and Alan traveled in their 5th-wheel RV to Alaska, Oregon, California, Colorado, and many other states. They invested in South Texas property with their children to help cultivate a herd of longhorn cattle, a passion of their eldest son Mike. They loved to go down to ‘the ranch’ to spend time there and enjoy the longhorns’ rugged beauty and resilience. Barbara embraced her passion for quilting, crafting over 20 hand-made works of art for her children and grandchildren; then reverse-engineered a full-size teddy bear to create miniature (2-inch) fully articulating teddy bears. She hand-made dozens while on her travels with Alan, using a wide variety of creative materials and textures.

After over 51 years of marriage, Alan passed after a long illness. Ever-exploring, Barbara began to travel the world with friends and tour groups, visiting England, Ireland, Scotland, Spain, Italy, France, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and more! A once-in-a-lifetime cruise tour of the Galapagos Islands with her sons Tom and Steve, daughter Jan, and daughter-in-law Denise created memories they will smile upon for many years.

Barbara was an outdoors enthusiast, rugged camper, bird-lover, world traveler, longhorn rancher, baseball mom, gymnastics mom, avid gardener, master quilter, fabulous cook, wily golfer, able sailor, skinny-dipper, toe-pincher, and problem-solver. She was tough as nails, embodying a marvelous combination of grit, determination, fierce independence, spitfire, unconditional love, positivity, grace, and kindness. Her fierce mantra that “Family is Everything” will live on through us all.