Leota A. Barham (Bolivar)'s Obituary
Leota Alleen Barham, age 95, of Bolivar, Missouri, passed away Saturday, July 2, 2011 at Citizens Memorial Healthcare Facility in Bolivar.
Leota was born November 1, 1915 to George Elvis Pritchard and Oliva Iris (Lindsey) Pritchard. Her parents, brother Herbert, and Leota moved to the Halfway area. Leota graduated from Emma D High School in Goodson in 1932.
She married Forrest ‘Clark’ Barham on October 28, 1934 who preceded her in death in 1980. The first year of their marriage they lived in Coffeeville, KS and came to Crowder, MO before settling in the Halfway area on a small farm located in the Homing Creek. They later moved to a farm north of Halfway and purchased the family farm in 1948. Leota helped with the milking, farming, and bookkeeping all while keeping house, cooking, sewing, keeping a garden, and canning its yield. She raised chickens both for the eggs, dress, and freeze.
In 1969 she and Clark had quit milking and were raising beef cattle. That same year they started the John Deere Tractor Dealership in Bolivar with their son Randy and his wife Janice. Leota was the bookkeeper and at 65 years of age learned the double entry type of bookkeeping. A feat many could not learn at a much younger age. She and her family remained proud of her accomplishments.
She was preceded in death by her husband Clark, and her son Randy.
She is survived by her daughter; Doris Haguewood and her husband Dean of Springfield, Missouri, her daughter-in-law; Janice Barham of Bolivar, 3 grandchildren; David and his wife Lisa of Halfway, Cindy Francka and her husband Bernard of Bolivar, and Tammy King and her husband Jody of Billings, 7 great grandchildren; and 1 great great grandchild, 6 step grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will be held on Friday, July 8, 2011at 11:00am in the Butler Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Gary Fulbright and Brother Doyle Mayfield officiating.
Pallbearers include: Keith Pritchard, Ben Gorden, Kenny Barham, Carl Boone, Doyle Spear, and Deral Vincent.
A visitation will be held from 10:00-11:00am, Friday, just prior to service time at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Greenwood Cemetery, in Bolivar, Missouri.
Memorial donations may be made to Pleasant View Missionary Baptist Church, in c/o Butler Funeral Home.
Friends and family may sign the guest book or leave private condolences at www.butlerfuneralhome.com
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