Lilla BARNES

1916 - 2016

BARNES, Lilla
Lilla Pearle Bessonette Barnes was born on December 4, 1916 in Waco TX to Van Kincannon and Lyda Lilla Bertrand Bessonette. She passed away on March 26, 2016 in Houston TX at the age of 99.

Lilla grew up as a precocious child surrounded by loving parents and grandparents in Waco until her family moved to San Antonio when she was 15. She graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School and Westmorland College (now Trinity University) before attending Southwestern University, Georgetown TX, where she graduated with honors in 1937, majoring in chemistry. She was the first female cheerleader at SU, albeit an honorary one, and was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority. On her first day at Southwestern, she had a blind date with Joe Barnes, whom she would later marry on February 6, 1937 after both had graduated.

Following their marriage, Joe and Lilla lived and taught at Academy/Little River and then in San Augustine TX. During World War II while Joe served in the Navy, they lived in Great Lakes IL, Philadelphia PA (Lilla worked in a chemical laboratory) and Gulfport MS. Following the war, they settled in San Antonio and their first daughter, Bettie, was born. The family moved to Georgetown TX where their second daughter, Joelle, was born. Joe and Lilla also lived and worked as educators in Aransas Pass, Lockhart and Belton. Lilla taught junior high and high school physical science, biology and chemistry, sponsored many extracurricular activities and never missed an opportunity to take the stage at a school assembly.

Retirement found Joe and Lilla on the road for extended camping trips to Alaska, northern Canada and the western USA with their good friends John and Kitzy Rodgers and Jack and Jessie Giesecke. They also enjoyed fishing expeditions with longtime friends Tom and Odessa Lovelace. And many a day was spent working the pecan crops alongside the Lovelaces.

After Joe's death in 2003, Lilla moved to the Meridian in Temple TX where she resided until January 2016 when she moved to Houston. At the Meridian, Lilla made many lasting and close friendships, and found true sisterhood with Rose Anne Brasher.

As a writer, artist, actor, and community volunteer, she won many awards and accolades for her writing and energy. She volunteered with incarcerated juveniles in Bell County, was the Story Lady at the library summer reading program, volunteered at the Methodist Church, and was an integral part at both Temple Civic Theatre and Living Room Theatre for many years. And she loved a good pun. Or two.

She is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Bettie and Jim Liebzeit and Joelle and Alan Foley, and her granddaughter and her husband, Amanda and Richard Bird. Without question, Amanda was the love of her life. She is also survived by nieces and nephews of both the Barnes and Bessonette families. Lilla's husband, Joseph Cullen Barnes, preceded her in death on April 1, 2003. She was also predeceased by her parents and her brother, William Van Bessonette.

A memorial service will be held on Monday, April 11, 2016 at 3:00pm at the First United Methodist Church, Belton TX, with a reception following.

Lilla's family thanks the staff and residents at the Meridian for the years she enjoyed as an active member of the community. Her last two months were spent with loving, compassionate and devoted care at Belmont Village West University in Houston TX.

In lieu of flowers and to honor Lilla's lifelong love of science, nature and birds, please consider a memorial gift to the Twin Lakes Audubon Society, PO Box 1623, Belton TX
76513 or to Southwestern University, 1001 E. University Ave., Georgetown TX 78626 attn: Cullie Hamilton.