Barbara L. Sanford

Barbara, the oldest of two daughters, was born in Yale, Oklahoma on the 18th of September 1937 to her parents, Lester and Dorothy Lunday. After graduating from Cushing High School in 1955, she attended Draughon’s School of Business and married Howard Harlson, Jr. on April 6, 1958 to whom she was married for 13 years. Together they had three children, Leigh Ann De Luna, Kristie Harlson and Michael Harlson.

In 1973, Barbara courageously moved her three young children to Houston, Texas to start a new life. Shortly after arriving in Houston, she met Lawrence “Larry” Sanford and his two children, Lawrence Bentley and Elizabeth Hope. Larry and Barbara fell in love and married on December 14, 1974, creating a unique and lively blended family. Together they traveled the world, collected art, and built a beautiful home together.

March of 1988, Barbara joined Alcoholics Anonymous and was an active member for many years. She ultimately enjoyed 33 years of sobriety, which she considered one of her greatest accomplishments, but more importantly, it was her emotional recovery that healed and inspired all who loved her.

Barbara and Larry adored their blended family of five children and eleven grandchildren and made every effort to foster close relationships as well as create beautiful memories. For many years they hosted a summer trip to places like the Frio River, Galveston beach and Lake McQueeney. They also planned an annual holiday event, ultimately dubbed the Cousin Party, where the entire family gathered for delicious food, lively conversation, and a hilariously competitive white elephant gift exchange. In honor of their beloved parents, the surviving family hopes to carry on the Cousin Party for many years to come.

Barbara, also lovingly called Barbara Jean, Beannie, the Bean, Mother and Grammy, was known by her family and friends to be passionate about life, adventurous in all her endeavors, reflective in her thoughts, and encouraging, accepting and sincere in her actions and words. She was a loving and compassionate caregiver who cared for her father, mother, and cherished husband during long illnesses, doing so with strength, grace, and humility until their eventual passing.

In 2015, Barbara embarked on a new adventure and immersed herself into the exciting world of competitive ballroom dancing. What started out as a wellness activity soon became her passion. She trained tirelessly at Fred Astaire School of Dance for over ten hours a week and competed in close to fifteen competitions a year during which she performed up to two-hundred dances a competition. Miss Barbara, as she was affectionately known in the dance community, danced in all categories—smooth, international, and rhythm—and competed all over the world. Her favorite style was international, and she was a multiple-time state champion, a repeat Fred Astaire National Champion, and a Fred Astaire World Champion. She was cherished by all her dance coaches who admired her enthusiasm, strength, dedication and determination.

Barbara is survived by her five children, Hope Sanford, Bentley Sanford and wife, Kyttie, Leigh Ann De Luna and husband Ruben, Kristie Harlson and Mike Harlson; her eleven grandchildren, Margaret Sheets, Rosemary Sheets, John Sanford and wife Betsy, Kate Sanford, Rob Sanford, Lindsey Rangel and husband Chris, Garrett Parker and wife Lauren, Markham Stayton and wife Anne-Marie, Julie Stayton, Samantha Stayton, Blake Harlson; and four great-grandchildren Isaac Gobin, Seth Gobin, Morgan Dodd, Eleanor Jean Dodd, Jacoby Rangel and Cruz Rangel.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Ouisie’s Table at four-thirty in the afternoon on Thursday, June 30. Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share memories of Barbara.

In lieu of the customary remembrances, memorial contributions in Barbara’s memory may be made to St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital at the link: http://giftfunds.stjude.org/Barbara-Sanford