Gwendolyn "Gwen" Barton

Gwendolyn “Gwen” Barton, 80, peacefully passed away in Oklahoma City on February 12, 2025. She was born on December 21, 1944, in Baxterville, Mississippi, to William “Buck” Earl Howard and Annie Maxine (Jones) Howard.

Gwendolyn grew up in Baxterville then moved to Oak Grove, Mississippi. Her family then made a big move to Shawnee, Oklahoma, were she graduated from Shawnee High School. In 1964, she married Jacky Wayne Barton. They had two children, Jacquelyn and Jay, and were married for 17 years before going their separate ways.

In her free time, Gwendolyn enjoyed listening to music, particularly Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton, Jimmy Swaggart, gospel, and country music. She cherished spending time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, especially when it involved shopping. Gwendolyn raised her family by demonstrating the values of kindness, generosity, hard work, and devotion to Jesus. She was especially fond of her family, friends, and cats—particularly the pets of her daughter Jacque. Gwendolyn was a member of Liberty Baptist Church.

Throughout her life, Gwendolyn took pride in every job she held, from secretary to bookkeeper. However, her greatest pride and joy was being a mother and grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her parents, William “Buck” Earl Howard and Annie Maxine (Jones) Howard; her brothers, William “Billy” Eugene Howard and James Otis Howard; her sister, Evelyn Loretta Osborn; and her brother-in-laws, William “Bill” Osborn and Lon Wilson.

Those left to cherish her memory include her sister Faye Wilson; her daughter, Jacquelyn Renee Evans and husband Kirby; her son, Jay Travis Barton and wife Mary; her grandson, Taylor Jay Barton, wife Maddie, and their son, Beau; her granddaughter, Alexandria Evans; her grandson, Josh Evans, wife Faith, and their daughter, Augustine; her granddaughter, Melissa Churchill, husband Corey, and their children, Ryland, Oakley, and Sterling; as well as nine nieces, ten nephews, and a host of extended family. She is also survived by her two beloved cats, Skittles and Paris.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that donations be made to a local animal shelter.

A funeral service for Gwendolyn will be held on Wednesday, February 19, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Primrose Funeral Service, 1109 North Porter Ave, Norman, OK 73071. Interment will follow at Norman IOOF Cemetery.