Barbara Jean Stark

"He will wipe every tear from their

eyes, and there will be no more

death or sorrow or crying or pain.

All these things are gone forever."

And the one sitting on the

throne said, "Look, I am making

everything new!" And then he said

to me, "Write this down, for what

I tell you is trustworthy and true."

Revelation 21:4-5 NLT

Barbara Jean Stark was the first-born child of Earl E. and Imogene (Edens) Smith. Barbara passed away at the age of 89 on Wednesday, May 17, 2023. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, her husband, Harlan Stark of Dallas, Texas, and her brother Stephen E. Smith of Baxter Springs, Kansas. Survivors include her brother, Bud Smith (Nancy) of Joplin, Missouri, her sister-in-law Cherie Smith of Baxter Springs, Kansas and her two sons Stephen D. Stark of McKinney, Texas, and Stuart M. Stark (Kim) of Eureka, Missouri. In addition, she is survived by six grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Barbara graduated from Joplin High School in 1951 where she had the honor of being voted Joplimo queen her senior year. She attended Lindenwood College in St. Charles, Missouri for three years transferring to the University of Mississippi her senior year. While there she became a member of the Tri-Delta sorority and graduated with a degree in education. Upon graduation, she married Harlan Stark and taught speech and debate classes in a Wichita Falls Texas high school while Harlan was stationed there in the Air Force. When their children were born, she left teaching and put her energy and love into raising them. When her sons were older, Barbara became interested in learning the real estate business, and she was very successful selling real estate both in the St. Louis and Dallas markets.

Barbara loved to travel and in addition to taking many trips in this country, she enjoyed the highlight of her travels – a trip around the world. She was looking forward to attending a class reunion in Joplin and a cruise with another reunion attendee when she suffered a stroke fourteen years ago. She suffered the debilitating effects of the stroke with a positive attitude and a great deal of grace, never losing her dignity. She passed away while living at Belterra Health and Rehabilitation Center in McKinney, Texas.

She was cremated, and a service will be held on Friday, May 26 in Dallas. She will be laid to rest next to Harlan at the Hillcrest Mausoleum and Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas. Hers was a life well-lived, and she was an inspiration to her family and her friends as well as her caregivers through the years.