Gloria Wilks Barrett

Barrett, Gloria Wilks, was born April 3, 1916, in Geary, Oklahoma, the fifth of six children born to Lewis Orval and Clara Norman Wilks. She spent her childhood in Cordell, Oklahoma, attending both the Christian and public schools and graduated from Cordell High School. In 1937 she received her B.A. degree from Panhandle A&M College in Goodwell, Oklahoma. She taught in Elkhart and Dodge City, Kansas, where she met T. Morris Barrett. They married in 1942 and established a home in Wichita and she lived in this area until her death on August 16, 2013. Gloria was baptized at the age of thirteen, and was a member of the RiverWalk Church of Christ, formerly Cleveland Avenue and then Central Church of Christ, Wichita, from 1942 until the present. Her Bible teaching ranged from toddlers to adults. The age she most enjoyed were the kindergartners whom she taught from 1952 to 1971. She appreciated the devoted helpers who assisted in her classes because she considered them a vital part of the experience. After her husband's death in 1970, she had part-time employment at Maude Carpenter Children's Home for seven years followed by volunteer work. She developed a special interest in Grief in the Christian Environment and Widowhood in America. She spoke at workshops and seminars in five states and developed the Widow's Support Group at Central Church of Christ which touched the lives of many widows in Wichita and surrounding communities. A visitation with the family will be 7-8:30 p.m., Monday, August 19 at Downing & Lahey Mortuary West. The Funeral Service will be 1 p.m., Tuesday, August 20 at RiverWalk Church of Christ. She is survived by three daughters, Avayd Lacy of Kansas City, Kansas, Ronda Barrett of Mission, Kansas and Kayla Barrett of Atlanta, Georgia; two granddaughters, Nyleen Lacy and Natalie Lacy Jansen (Matt); one great-granddaughter, Anya Gundlach, and three step-great-grandchildren, Maya, Zachary and Alex Jansen. Memorial established with Carpenter Place, 1501 N. Meridian, Wichita, KS 67203. www.dlwichita.com