Barbara J. Farley

Barbara June Farley, 90, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma passed away Wednesday, September 18, 2019 in Oklahoma City. Barbara was born June 3, 1929 in Tampa, Florida to Velma Cavnar Farley and Edwin P. Farley.

Shortly after her birth, America experienced The Great Depression. Mr. Farley worked in a local Tampa bank. Because of the Depression the bank closed, and Mr. Farley lost his job. The young Farley family were forced to move into a small apartment above a neighborhood filling station. Unemployed and with little money, her resourceful parents did their best to make ends meet. In place of a crib, baby Barbara slept in an open wooden file cabinet drawer with her homemade bedding.

Soon the Farley family moved to Oklahoma. Barbara shared family stories about living through the Dust Bowl. She fondly remembered how her mother washed the linens and clothes and hung them on the rickety clothesline in their backyard. The thick red dust in the air often settled on the drying clothes. Barbara watched as her mother beat the damp clothes with a straw broom to remove the red dirt.

Barbara was an active child who enjoyed playing with the neighborhood children. Two weeks after her 12th birthday, Barbara’s “baby sister”, Judith Ann (Judy) was born. Even during Barbara’s last week on earth, she fondly shared the story about how it was she who named her baby sister.

After graduating from Central High School in Oklahoma City, Barbara followed in her father’s footsteps and entered the banking industry. She worked with Liberty National Bank for twenty-one years. At Liberty National Bank, she was the first female senior vice-president. She was the Certified Trainer-Leader of the National Association of Bank Women for the state of Oklahoma.

Before her ailing health, Barbara was an active church member. She enjoyed teaching Sunday School classes. Over the years, she served as the choir director of Capital Hill Tabernacle Church and later as the choir director at Cornerstone Church. With a lovely voice, she enjoyed singing praise songs and hymns.

Barbara June is survived by her sister Judy Marshall of Dallas, Texas, her niece Donna and husband David Rizos of Dallas, Texas and their children Samantha Garelick and Jacob Rizos. Barbara “Auntie” is also survived by her nephew, Lt. Alan Farley Jones, USN and his wife Jennifer, of Bremerton, Washington, and their children Zachery and Hannah Jones. Barbara enjoyed telling friends and even acquaintances about how proud she was of her nephew Alan’s accomplishments in the Navy. Auntie is the great-great aunt of Mason Ruestmann, Brooks Garelick, and Lucy Belle Garelick. Barbara is also survived by her dear friends Trisha and Mark Harris of Tuttle, Oklahoma.

Barbara’s viewing is Sunday, September 22nd at Guardian West Funeral Home in Warr Acres, Oklahoma from 1:00 to 6:00 pm. Her service is Monday, September 23rd at Christ’s Legacy Church in Yukon, Oklahoma at 10:00 am.

The family praises the Lord that her suffering is over. With a new and perfect heavenly body, Auntie is now with Jesus.