Faye was born in Polk County, Texas where she spent most of her youth on her father's dairy farm playing with her siblings and cousins in the piney woods of East Texas. Her family moved to Baytown when Faye was a teenager and she graduated from Robert E. Lee High School. While in Baytown, she married and started her family. Over her life, Faye had several careers making her mark as a home maker, selling insurance and running the West Main Café in Pelly. Faye was a feisty, fiercely independent and extremely generous woman. She opened her home to anyone who needed refuge, was accepting of everyone, regardless of circumstance and would often times anonymously extend a helping hand to those in need. Faye was a yellow-dog, dyed in the wool democrat, and if you were not it was only because she had not had the chance to speak with you yet. Faye made life-long friends as a member of the Faculty Wives Club of Lee College. She enjoyed drinking coffee and talking politics with Glenda, Gerrie, Miff, Sue, Helen and Judy and cherished her time with these ladies. Faye retired to Livingston, TX where she spent many an hour sitting around her kitchen table reminiscing and laughing with her brother and sisters. When the laughter started, it was contagious and seemed to go on forever.
Faye found love again later in life and married her dear friend, Bob Barnum. Their family expanded and together, they had 9 granddaughters. She loved playing with them in the creek, creating a life-sized doll house for the girls to play in and throwing epic Easter egg hunts for the entire Coker clan. There is not enough space in The Baytown Sun to capture the spirit and influence of Faye Barnum. She lived a big life and she will be missed.
Faye was preceded in death by her parents, Garland and Myrtle Coker; sister, Delma Hamilton and brother, Wayne Coker.
She is survived by her husband, Bob Barnum; daughters, Wendy Walker and husband, James and Elizabeth Yolland and husband, Michael; step- daughters, Robbie Adams and husband, Ryan and Laura Smith; sisters, Lou Jackson and Jean Ancelet and husband, Don; grandchildren, Madison and Johanna Schwartz, Allyson and Juliana Yolland, Megan, Candice and Aubri Adams, Leanne Boudreaux and Natalie Smith; niece and caregiver, Tina Schamp, her special friend Glenda White and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will not be holding any service per Faye's request.
To view the online obituary or to post a tribute for the family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521 (281) 422-8111.
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