Barbara Trussell

Barbara Trussell stepped through heaven's open door at 3:45 AM on June 25th, her 75th wedding anniversary. She was born Barbara Jean Brewer on Mother's Day, May 8th, 1932 to O. P. and Gladys Brewer in Cleburne, Texas, the second of six children. She grew up in The Great Depression but her family was blessed because though they lived in town, they had a garden, chickens, rabbits, and a cow. The challenges of the time meant that she learned how to do many things that fostered a sense of independence and proved useful all her life, such as sewing, cooking, baking, gardening, and taking care of animals. She was always up for learning something new and trying anything to see if she could do it. She grew up in a Christian home with parents who sang in the church choir and owned their own piano. She took piano lessons, loved to sing, and directed the children's choir as a teen. Music was always an important part of her life and she was likely to burst into song anytime she heard a phrase that made her think of a song. With four children and her husband serving in the Army, Barbara became a housewife. She kept busy, and not just with her children and being a room mother and active in the PTA. Wherever they lived, Barbara always made many friends, found a church home, and settled in to socialize and work. The Rio Grande Valley was where they bought the first home they ever owned and settled in. Barbara found First Baptist Church of McAllen and all kinds of things to do to keep her busy when her children didn't. She sang in the choir and in an ensemble, performed solos and duets (when she could con Terri into it), and joined the handbell choir. While participating as a singer in the McAllen Christmas Pageant, she also worked with her partner in crime, Theda Clayton, and put her sewing skills to work making costumes and banners. She played piano in her adult Sunday School class if there weren't too many sharps. When the empty nest stage of life occurred, she couldn't stand having nothing to do so she upped her level of volunteering. She put her cooking skills to work for the FBC Day Care and even recently donating cookies and "fire crackers" to the luncheons at the BSU or FBC. As President of the WMU, she organized the First Tuesday ladies' luncheon for several years. Her other hobbies included baking and decorating birthday cakes and wedding cakes and music in every way, playing or singing or listening and appreciating. After her husband's death in 1994, she decided to add Missionary to her titles and went on mission trips to Brazil and church plant/VBS trips to New Hampshire. About fifteen years ago, Barbara learned to loom knit and proudly called herself a KnitWit. She was very involved in the prayer shawl ministry of The Lamb's Loom and set herself a goal of making at least two hats a day as well as becoming The Fringe Queen because she was fringing shawls and scarves for Terri and other KnitWits. She has had many titles that have changed through the years depending on her age and identity at the time. These include daughter, sister, aunt, sister-in-law, mom, grandma, and great grandma or GG. Her honorary titles include Other Mother, Adopted Grandmother, and Adopted GG. Those who knew her for very long also called her Encourager, Caregiver, Sympathetic Listener, Helper, and Prayer Partner. Her sense of humor, the little smirk that showed off her dimple, a twinkle of mischief in her eye, and her love of stirring things up also granted her the nicknames of Miss Sassy, Drama Queen, and Barbara Trouble. When asked how she was, she inevitably answered, "I'm as ornery as ever." It was a true descriptor but one that had to be explained to a friend for whom English was a second language. When she was brought back to the hospital room after surgery, a nurse named Luis R. asked her what was her secret for a long and happy life. Her reply was typical. "Always do for others. Make lots of friends and keep them. It's not all about family. Have fun." She will be missed. She is survived by her children, Terri Zavaleta, Ron (Gracee) Trussell, Kathryn (Tracy) Trussell, and Joni (Luke) Wratten, her brothers Jim (Lillian) Brewer and Steve Brewer, brother-in-law Alvin (Judy) Trussell, sister-in-law Sandra Trussell, and many nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. Six grandchildren: Rory (Stacey) Trussell, Christopher (Lyndsey) Smith, Austin Trussell, Alicia (Jack) Perry, Sara Rohr, and Nathaniel Wratten. Great Grandchildren: Fiona Trussell, Kaitlyn Trussell, Caleb Bartlett, Samuel Bartlett, Mitchell Perry, Dexter Perry, Archer Trussell, Jason Starbird, Savannah Trussell, and Moira Kay Perry. Visitation will be on Friday, June 30, 2023 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm at Kreidler Funeral Home in McAllen. Funeral Service will be at 10:00am on Saturday, July 1, 2023 at First Baptist Church in McAllen. In lieu of flowers, donations to The Lamb's Loom (1102 Tamarack Ave. McAllen, TX 78501) or FBC McAllen (1200 Beech Ave. McAllen, TX 78501) would be appreciated.

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Barbara Trussell

June 25, 2023