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Barbara Josephine Johnston McGaughey, 90, passed from this life to the next on September 21, 2025. Barbara was born in Knox City, Texas, to Fred Alvin (Ted) and Winnie Messer Johnston on November 18, 1934. She married John Nelson McGaughey on December 22, 1951. They had three children: David Nelson, Jodie Wade, and Barbie Ruth.
Barbara retired from the Stamford public school system, where she adored teaching reading as a paraprofessional. She also worked as an X-ray technician for Stamford Memorial Hospital. She enjoyed fellowshipping with the Stamford Pink Ladies and BPW club. Her greatest calling was being a wife, mother, and grandmother. She was an excellent cook and seamstress.
Barbara loved decorating her home. John once said he had to throw his hat in the door every night to see where it bounced off that day's decorating and furniture rearranging, so he would not trip.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers F.A. and Jerry Johnston, her husband John, her nephew Shane Johnston, and two grandsons, Rush McGaughey and Nicholas Sisson.
Those left to celebrate memories of her are her children David McGaughey and wife Patricia, Jodie McGaughey and wife Tamara, and Barbie Sisson and husband Kevin; grandchildren Heidi Iverson (Eric), Reid McGaughey (Christine), Tembri Semon (Christopher), Rebecca McGaughey, and Abby Rosales (Javon); great grandchildren Ansley Iverson, Brick Iverson, Cydnee Iverson, Calvin Semon, John McGaughey, Nathaniel Semon, and Mila Rosales, Sister-in-law Janice Johnston, and nieces Freda Miller, Kimmie Fonda, Kerrie Hall and Sundee Barnes. Mom wished to give special thanks to her across-the-street Stamford neighbors, Nina and Edward McClintock, the staff at The Court of Round Rock, and the staff at Falcon Ridge Rehabilitation Center.
Paul Wright will officiate a memorial service at St. John’s Methodist Church in Stamford, Texas, on October 5, 2025, at 2 PM, with interment of her ashes at Benjamin Cemetery to follow that afternoon at 4 PM under the direction of Tankersley Funeral Home of Stamford.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
807 S. Columbia P. O. Box 828, Stamford, TX 79553
Memories and condolences can be left on the obituary at the funeral home website.
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