Barbara Ann Harney

Barbara Ann McLemore-Harney was born on November 4

th

, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas to Jim and Pearl McLemore. Barbara passed away Sunday, November 12

th

, 2023, after an 8-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Visitation will be from 5-6:00 PM, Tuesday, November 14, 2023 at Boxwell Brothers, 2800 Paramount. Funeral service will be at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at South Georgia Baptist Church, 5209 S. Georgia St. Interment will follow in Llano Cemetery. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.

Barbara was raised in Amarillo where she attended Sanborn Elementary School, Bowie Junior High, and Caprock High School. Barbara graduated from Caprock High School in 1966 and would forever lament how bad Caprock was at football then and now. She went on to graduate from Draughton’s Business College in 1969. Barbara had three children, Stacey Beckum, Sharrise Beckum and Todd Beckum. Naming Todd was disputed by Jim McLemore in 1981, as he believed he should be named Ned, Todd agrees. On December 26

th

, 1987 Barbara married the love of her life, Orvill Harney. Orvill and Barbara were happily married for almost 36 years. Orvill was the partner and friend Barbara needed and the father her children needed.

Barbara was a sweet, caring, and hilarious woman and by far, way better than your mom. Put that in your pipe and smoke it. Before marrying Orvill, Barbara was a single mother of three young children. Barbara was one of the hardest working people you could meet. She made sure that her children had what they needed and was the loving mother who everyone deserves to have. Barbara and Orvill are also considered parents to their first grand-daughter Gina. Gina had a strong bond with Barbara and considers her to be her mother, and also found a father in Orvill. Barbara had a great wit and was quick with a joke and a smile. Her laughter could be infectious and usually ended with her signature head shake followed by “Ahh shoot”.

Even in the final days of the awful disease that took her far away, she would still smile at you, and you could feel her warmth. Barbara loved big. She loved her momma and daddy; she loved her brothers Rick McLemore and Doug McLemore, she loved her nieces and nephews, her sister in-laws, sons and daughter in-laws, her grandchildren, and her great grandchildren. If she loved you, that never changed, and she made sure you knew it. Barbara loved spending time with her family and was always happy to cook for you. You better show up hungry, because she was going to feed you, like it or not. More than anything, Barbara was genuine. Barbara did not try to be anyone but herself, and that was always more than enough. She was someone you could depend on to give you good advice, and to always have your best interests at heart. Barbara always wanted more for the people around her than she wanted for herself. She was selflessness exemplified.

Barbara was preceded in death by her loving parents and best dang grandparents in the world, Jim and Pearl McLemore, step-son Mike Harney, and brother in-law Roy Harney of Tulsa, Ok.

Barbara is survived by her husband, Orvill Harney, daughter Stacey Simpson, Daughter Sharrise Ball and Husband Rob, her favorite child Todd Beckum and his partner in crime Wendi Swope, grand-daughter Gina Coleman and husband Taylor, grandson Zakary Stout, grandson Jayden Peek and wife Maddy, grandson Josh Ball, great-grandchildren Treyson, Kambree and Kolter, along with many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and friends.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that a donation be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in Barbara’s memory.