Funeral services for Jewel Leon Mullins Barnes, 96, of Whitewright will be held at Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 11am at the Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Whitewright, Texas. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service. Reverend Don Hollister of Pilot Grove Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery in Westminster, Texas.
Jewel was born on November 4, 1918, the daughter of Bill and Eunice (Ballard) Mullins in Westminster, Texas. On July 21, 1935 she married Tom Barnes in Anna, Texas. They shared sixty years and six months together. She passed away on September 4, 2015 in Sherman, Texas.
Mrs. Barnes was preceded in death by her husband in January 1996, her parents and brothers, J.W. and J.B. Mullins, and sister Frances Micheli.
She is survived by her daughter Bettie Jeanette Tognini and husband, Jack of Elko, Nevada, son Dennis Lynn Barnes and wife, Joanna of Pottsboro, Texas. Six grandchildren: Tony Gunter and wife Laura of Elko, Nevada, Timothy Gunter and wife Loretta of Whitewright, Texas, Todd Tognini and wife Dalana of Elko, Nevada, Daniel and wife Stephanie of Frisco, Texas, Casey Barnes of Dallas, Texas, and Deanna Barnes of Dallas, Texas. Survivors also include twelve great grandchildren, five great great grandchildren, sister Billie Jean Bartley of Whitewright, Texas, sister-in-law Gloria Mullins.
Jewel was a strong woman evidenced by living alone and independently until she was almost 97 years old. She had an opinion about everything and was never hesitant to share that with you but she did it nicely by always prefacing that opinion with “I’ve just got to say this.” Her mind continued to be sharp and alert, completing the newspaper crossword puzzles on a daily basis and never leaving a line blank. She could tell you the complete history of Whitewright and everyone who ever lived there along with their names, dates of birth, marriages, children’s names, and where they went after leaving Whitewright. She was a long time employee of Pettit’s Grocery working there so long in fact that she retired three times. Everyone in Whitewright knew and loved Jewel, just as she loved them. She was a member of Pilot Grove Baptist Church.
Memorials may be made to an animal shelter or charity of your choice.