Barbara Jo Mueller

Devoted Mother, Grandmother and Teacher

Barbara Jo Mueller, 86, passed away peacefully on March 16, 2022, her birthday, in Denton, TX with her daughters by her side.

Born March 16, 1936, to Frank and Lillian Bounds in Odem, TX, she, and younger sister Marilyn were raised in the south Texas countryside near the Gulf Coast. As a child of WWII, she often recalled the hardship of wartime including learning to identify and watch for enemy planes. During her teenage years, her family relocated to Pecos, TX where she attended Pecos High School and excelled as a member of the band and choir, later becoming a majorette and band sweetheart nominee. She was well liked by her classmates and remained friends with many of them over the years.

In 1957, Barbara became a mother to identical twin daughters, Leslie and Randa. She would go on to have another daughter, Melony and lastly, her only son, Monty Frank. Busy with four children, she was a no-nonsense mother, teaching them cooperation, responsibility, and independence from a young age, while keeping them active in church and the YMCA.

In the early 1970s, Barbara became single and focused intently upon acquiring a college education. As a single mother, she managed to excel at the University of North Texas, then known as NTSU, where she received a Bachelor of Education as well as two master's degrees. She began her teaching career at Gainesville State School and soon became a special education teacher in Denton ISD where she remained until her retirement. Barbara always sought out and rooted for the underdog, and for many years her role included assisting special needs students in finding jobs to further their own independence. Long after retiring, she continued her love of education by substitute teaching and volunteering as a mentor for students in need.

Named Granny Barbara by her students upon the arrival of her first grandchild, she was affectionately called "GB" thereafter by her nine grandchildren and later, great-grandchildren. She often hosted large family gatherings at her iconic log-cabin home near the lake in Little Elm, TX. She took great pride in her home, where she resided for over 30 years and taught her grandchildren her love for animals, the outdoors, and an ice-cold Dr Pepper.

She appreciated the simple things like drinking coffee on her front porch admiring the birds, decorating with eclectic antiques and family photos, reading a good crime novel, tooling around country roads in her bright blue Jeep Wrangler listening to Willie and The Boys, shopping for her grandchildren, walking her dog down to the lake, and rooting for the Dallas Cowboys and Mavericks.

As a modern woman, she challenged social norms, never feared expressing herself and was always fiercely independent. However, these traits also coincided with her ability to never take life too seriously. Her hearty laugh and spirited behavior will always be remembered fondly.

Barbara is sorely missed by her sister Marilyn (Terry) Oden; children Randa (Dennis) Thorp, Leslie (Steve) West, Melony (John) Bradley, Stephanie Wilson Mueller; her grandchildren Ivy (Barry) Naude, Trey (Jessica) Trueblood, Travis (Jessica) Thorp, Lilly (Michael) Morales, Anna (David) Fisher, Addison (Anita) Bradley, Tara Bradley, Justin and Alison Mueller; and her nine great-grandchildren, Cooper, Parker, Jaxon, Landrie, James, Maverick, Kayla, Elizah, and Arthur, along with nephews, nieces, and cousins. She is preceded in death by her son Monty Frank Mueller.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for April 16, 2022, from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. Please contact family members for further details. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation at bcrf.org.

Online condolences may be made at www.mulkeybowlesmontgomery.com