Claudine Fergusson Barkley

Juanita Claudine Fergusson Barkley died after a lengthy illness on September 17, 2010, at the age of 85. Born October 25, 1924, near Pottsville, Texas, in Hamilton County, Claudine was the first child of Claude and Ima Riley Fergusson. She was baptized in the First Methodist Church in Hamilton in 1930. Claudine spent most of her childhood and teenage years in Hamilton and graduated from Hamilton High School in 1942 where she was a member of the high school band. She attended Draughn Business College in Dallas before marrying her high school sweetheart and husband of 67 years, Billy Harold Barkley Sr., in June of 1943 in Wichita, Kansas. After the end of World War II, she and Bill both attended the University of Texas in Austin, with her area of study being Homemaking and Child Development. They later moved to San Angelo, Breckenridge and Midland, Texas, along the way raising their family of three sons: Billy Harold Barkley Jr. of Carrollton, Robert Fergusson Barkley of Waco, and Todd Gene Barkley of Hamilton. Devotion to the care of her family and the creation of their home was Claudine’s central mission in life. Another passion was singing soprano in the Chancel Choir at St. Luke’s Methodist Church for 18 years in Midland and then for the last 35 years in the choir at First United Methodist after she and Bill moved back to Hamilton in 1970. She also served as president of the United Methodist Women several times and prepared many, many Bible lessons for the women’s group over the years. In addition, she was a valued member of the Hamilton community, volunteering often for various activities and endeavors. If something needed to be done, she was there to help. She lived her life meticulously, be it the proper ingredients of her wonderful recipes, the right flash of bright color in her home décor, or her mantra of “if it is worth doing, it is worth doing well.” She was not afraid to extend herself, whether it was trying her hand at painting or learning to play the piano. Her vibrant personality, her can-do-spirit, and her love for family, church, community, and country are the legacies of a life lived well. And it was only fitting that her last Christmas, her favorite season of the year, was spent singing carols with her family at her bedside; her voice and life will resonate in the years to come. She is survived by her husband; her three sons; her daughter-in-laws Vicki Barkley of Carrollton and Sara Stone of Waco; her sister, Ima Jean Fergusson Dunson and her husband Wallace Dunson of Kingsland and their family; her grandchildren: Brent Edward Barkley and his wife Jamie Barkley of Denver, Colorado, William Gregg Barkley of Ft. Collins, Colorado, Daniel Landon Barkley and his wife Emily Barkley of Corinth, Texas, Rachel Barkley Menjivar and her husband Mark Menjivar of San Antonio, and David Stone of McKinney, Texas; her great-grandchildren Asa Fergusson Menjivar and Eilan Landon Menjivar of San Antonio, and Cambri Stone of McKinney, Texas; and a vast collection of extended Fergussons, Rileys and other family and friends. Claudine’s family will receive visitors at the Riley Funeral Home in Hamilton from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Saturday, September 18, 2010. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First United Methodist Church in Hamilton, the Hamilton Public Library, the Hamilton General Hospital, the Hamilton Cemetery Association, or CCS Hospice in Dublin, Texas. Services will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Hamilton on Sunday, September 19, 2010, at 2:00 in the afternoon. Burial will be in the IOOF Cemetery in Hamilton following the service.

Arrangements under the direction of Riley Funeral Home, Hamilton, TX.