Barbara Dooley

February 26, 1950 - May 19, 2014

Surrounded by her loving family, Barbara S. Dooley, 64, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, cherished sister, and beloved aunt, passed peacefully into the Lord's hands on May 19, 2014. The oldest daughter of Van Jackson Jarvis and Lena Mae (Bruce) Jarvis, she was born in Navasota, Texas on February 26, 1950. She was raised in the Keith, Texas community with her brother and two sisters. She attended school in Iola, Texas and graduated from high school in May 1967. Following graduation she married the love of her life, Kenneth (Ken) Dooley on June 9, 1967. Ken and Barbara were devoted to each other for over 50 years. Until her death, their marriage was still strong after nearly 47 years. It was a very happy marriage filled with love, family, friends and much laughter. They served as a sterling example of how a couple following God's commandments can have such an impact on the lives of others.

After Ken graduated from Texas A&M University in May 1969 and commissioned as a 2nd Lt. in the US Army, he and Barbara were stationed at numerous military base locations in the United States and the Far East. Their oldest son, Scott, was born on Okinawa, Japan in November 1971. While Ken was serving an unaccompanied tour of military duty in South Korea in 1976, Barbara enrolled and graduated from Charles & Sue's School of Hair Design that same year. She worked as a hairdresser in the Bryan, Texas area at Milady's, Park Place Salon, The Galleria Salon & Spa, and Shapers Hair Productions. While working at Milady's their second son, Seth, was born in April 1980.

Barbara's love of the Lord, family, and friends, were her lifelong priorities. A gracious lady she was also a strong Christian woman who worshipped the Lord as a member of the Zion Church of Kurten.

Barbara certainly enjoyed being a hairdresser. Her engaging personality lent itself perfectly to this chosen profession. While performing her hairdressing duties, she would also serve as counselor, psychologist, mom, big sister, and the very best listener to a vast number of people in need of advice. That ever present smile would immediately put anyone at ease. She truly never met a stranger and was always more concerned about another's well-being before considering her own. She worked as a hairdresser for 31 years until retirement in early 2007 due to illness. Her impact on others is so indicative of a life well lived.

Barbara bled maroon and white. She loved anything associated with Texas A&M University. After all, she had worked hard to help Ken and their two sons pursue an education at the university. She particularly enjoyed watching her beloved Aggies play football, and the Texas Aggie Band march at Kyle Field. Her home displays numerous A&M items, and her grand-children are well stocked in Aggie apparel.

Barbara was predeceased by her father Van Jarvis. She is survived by her loving husband Ken Dooley; children, Scott Dooley and wife Kim and Seth Dooley and wife Stacey; grandchildren, Liam Dooley, McKenzie Dooley, and Charlie Dooley; mother, Lena Jarvis; brother, Kenneth Jarvis and wife Grace; two sisters, Sandra Norman and Jo Baca; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank Dr. Raymond Alexanian and his staff at MD Anderson Cancer Center, as well as Dr. Erin Fleener and her staff at the Cancer Center, members of the St. Joseph Hospital Oncology staff, the staff at the St. Joseph Rehab Center, and the staff of Hospice Brazos Valley, for their loving care and support during Barbara's illness.

Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday May 21, 2014 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at Memorial Funeral Chapel in College Station. Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 A.M. Thursday May 22, 2014 at the Zion Church of Kurten with Reverends Mitchell Beene and Howard Bruce officiating. Interment will follow at Martin's Prairie Cemetery in Grimes County.

Memorials are to be made to the Zion Church of Kurten, P.O. Box 41, Kurten, Texas 77862 or Hospice Brazos Valley 502 W 26th St, Bryan, TX 77803.