Barbara Ann Autry

Barbara Ann (Thompson) Autry, age 81, died March 20, 2018 in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Barbara was born in Sedan, Oklahoma, Kiowa County, November 27, 1936 to John D. Thompson and Mary Olivia (Hines) Thompson. Her early childhood years were closely associated with farming and ranching. She was very active in 4-H. She graduated from Sedan High school in 1954 as Valedictorian. She was very much involved with sports, especially track, basketball and softball. In the fall of 1954, she enrolled at The Oklahoma College for Women at Chickasha. She was employed part time by the college library and the printing department. During the summers, she assisted with the work on the family farm, especially the wheat harvest. Barbara was active on the college campus with Future Business Leaders, Future Teacher’s Association, International Relations Club, Intramural Board, and Wesley Foundation. She was named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities in 1958, The summer of 1957, she was an exchange student to Scotland in the Scottish Amicable Life Insurance Society as a trainee. She graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in business education. After graduation, she was employed by the Daily Oklahoman to assist in publishing the Farmers-Stockman magazine in Oklahoma City as advertising clerk. Barbara and Bill Autry were united in marriage at Mountain View Methodist Church January 3, 1959. Barbara continued working in Oklahoma City and Bill commuted to OU where he taught part time at the University and did graduate work. In 1961, they moved to Norman where Barbara spent a year earning her Masters’ Degree. She received the underwriters award at OU. She took also additional courses at OSU. Upon completion of her graduate work, the couple moved to Lafayette, Louisiana where Barbara taught business subjects at the University of Southwestern Louisiana for two years and Bill worked as a masonry contractor. Barbara and Bill moved to Bartlesville in August 1963. Bill took employment with the school system. Barbara gave birth to a son, Chris on January 4, 1964. Their next child, Clark, died shortly after his birth in 1967. Their daughter Holly was born March 4, 1970. During Barbara’s teaching tenure, she taught in the Bartlesville School System, Copan, Lenapah, Blanchard, Tri-County Vo-Tech, and Wesleyan College. During her tenure at Wesleyan, she taught the secretarial science and business class and gave direction to the secretarial students in preparation for the proficiency exam to be Certified Professional Secretaries (CPS). She wrote and received several grants while at Madison Middle School. She also worked on the state curriculum committee. She retired in 1997. After retirement, she became a member of Washington County Retired Educators Association and assisted with legislative issues for education. She and Bill traveled extensively and enjoyed time with their children and grandchildren. She served several years on the Alumni Board for USAO at Chickasha, Oklahoma She is survived by her husband, Bill, a son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Tina Autry and their two children, Chip and Charlie of Waxahachie, Texas and a daughter and son-in-law, Holly and David Jurbergs and their two children, Alex and Luke of Austin, Texas, a brother and sister-in-law, John E. and Elnora Thompson of Anadarko, a brother-in-law, Gail Jones of Duncan, a sister-in-law, Evelyn Thompson of Mountain View and a host of nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Mary Thompson, a son, Clark Autry, a sister, Sandra Thompson, and a brother, Amos Miles Thompson. Funeral services will be held at the Bartlesville First Church, Friday March 23, 10:30 am. The family will be receiving guests at a formal visitation in the Stumpff Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday March 22, 6-8 pm. Graveside services will be held Saturday March 24, 1 pm at Mountain View Cemetery in Mountain View, Oklahoma. Memorials can be sent to Barbara's named alumni scholarship at University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma, 1727 W. Alabama Avenue, Chickasha, Ok 73018. or Bartlesville First Church.

Barbara Ann Autry

November 27, 1936 - March 20, 2018