Mary Gale Bullock Barnes

Mary Gale Bullock Barnes of Houston passed away on may 8, 2010. She was born on August 4, 1939 in Dardanelle, Arkansas, the only daughter of Thomas and Anna Bullock. After graduating from Russellville High School in 1956, she attended Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, Missouri, and then Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Arkanas. In 1958 she entered the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She became a member of the Pi Beta Phi Sorority and in 1960 received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology. Her oldest brother, the late Dr. Thomas Leonard Bullock, Jr. of Little Rock, then suggested she pursue a medically allied career. With Tommy's encouragement, she completed advanced technological training and became certified as a registered medical technologist. In 1964 she moved to Houston and accepted a position in the Pathology department at Baylor Medical School. There she met and fell in love with a young medical student, J. Robert Barnes. They were married in Houston's Christ Church Cathedral following his 1966 medical school graduation. In June of this year they would have celebrated their 44th wedding anniversary. Jessica Love Barnes, their only child, was born on May 9, 1971. Jessica and her mother could not have been more devoted. They were steadfast friends and the laughter was nonstop whenever they were together. Mary Gale and J. Robert took great delight in Jessica's many talents and enjoyed enormously her artistic career. Always the adventurer, Mary Gale led the family on scuba diving, sailing and snow skiing vacations. One of her greatest pleasures was working with patients and she was justifiably proud of her vital role in the development and expansion of J. Robert's solo opthalmology practice into Barnes Eye Centers. Her persona was sophisticated and fashionable, but no one could have been more authentic and gentle. Mary Gale's wonderful smile brightened all our days. A champion of the underdog, she would not abide bullies. Without being pious, her faith was unshakable and visible to all of us in the way she lived and died. During her long struggle with cancer, the doctors were continually amazed by her resilience and grit in the face of multiple surgeries and chemotherapies. At the end, her only concerns were for the wellbeing and happiness of Jessica and J. Robert, who are profoundly saddened by her death. She is also survived by an older brother, Judge William Robert Bullock of Dardanelle, Arkansas and sister-in-law, Judith Elaine Leggett of Chester, Texas. A memorial service for Mary Gale will be held at 1:30 PM on Wednesday, May 12 at St. John the Divine Church, 2450 River Oaks Blvd., Houston.

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