Sally Lou Barr

Sally Lou “Mathews” Barr was born March 31, 1945, in Baxter Springs, Kansas to James Perry “Bud” Mathews and Reva Almeda “Willson” Mathews. Sally entered into rest October 24, 2022, in Kissimmee, Florida. Sally was a beloved wife, mother, mimi, great-mimi, daughter, sister, and friend. She was deeply loved and will be deeply missed. Sally was raised in the Baxter Springs, and Treece, Kansas and Picher, Oklahoma areas, but because her daddy Bud was in the military, she also lived in El Paso, Texas and the Ft. Leonard Wood/Waynesville, Missouri areas. Sally always loved warm weather and said she never would’ve left El Paso, Texas if the choice had been left to her. However, had it been her choice she might never have met her husband Billy “Bill” Leroy Barr. Bill and Sally met at the home of one of Sally’s best friends from school days, Deborah “Frogue” Greeves. Bill said he knew from that moment that he wanted to marry her. They married October 6, 1960 and were blessed with 62 years, 4 children, 10 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren together. Bill went on to say, “She was the only woman I have ever loved and ever will.” Once married, Bill and Sally relocated to Whittier, California for a few months and started their family, but before the birth of their first child they moved back to Baxter Springs and daughter Sareva Louise was born in 1961. Sandra “Sandee” Loumeda came along just 18 months later in 1963. By the time Wendy Lou made her arrival in 1968 Bill and Sally were living in Lebanon, Missouri. William Mathew “Matt” --their only son-- was born in 1974 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bill and Sally had relocated to Tulsa in 1971 because, always wanting to make Sally happy, Bill moved Sally to a warmer climate and nearer to her family. Mathew’s birth was a surprise, but came at an important time in Sally’s life because she had lost her beloved mother Reva and her grandmother Mary Louise Wilson in 1973. Deeply grieving these losses God knew she needed a new baby boy to give her strength to endure her grief. Sally loved babies and had always wanted a baby boy so, although unplanned, Matt was a gift from God to Sally. Mathew is not only a form of Sally’s maiden name, but the meaning of Mathew is God’s gift, a gift of the Lord. Matt was a gift then and perhaps even more in the last few years of her life. Throughout their marriage Bill was always doing whatever he could to make Sally happy and bring back her joy. In 1998 when Bill’s place of employment was sold, and their daughter’s had married and moved out of the nest he took a job in Kentucky. It was a nice change of scenery for them, but she wanted warm weather and sunshine so in 1999 Bill and Sally relocated to Kissimmee, Florida. Sally was happy with the weather, but her health was beginning to fail. Sareva, Sandee and Wendy tried repeatedly to convince Sally to move back to Oklahoma where they would be able to help care for their family. Despite their best efforts, it was Sally herself who refused to leave the Florida sunshine, so Matt alongside Bill were left with the very difficult job of full-time care for Sally until she drew her last breath. Sally loved her family deeply but never truly recovered from the loss of her mother Reva and couldn’t bear the depths of depression she felt brought on by the cold, gray winters in Oklahoma that would take her right back to the winter day her mother died. Sally was primarily a homemaker but did many other jobs outside the home to help in supporting her family throughout her lifetime. She was a child caregiver to many families, a retail store clerk, seamstress and assistant manager at C.R. Anthony’s, administrative assistant a PBX operator and file clerk at Broken Arrow Hospital and a mail clerk at Print Copy Mail It. Sally will be remembered for her love of family, her loyal friendship, her smile, her red lipstick, her temper, her determination (aka hard headedness). Her favorite saying was “where there’s a will there’s a way” and if you didn’t believe her she would prove it! LOL! Sally said she couldn’t wear most perfumes because the chemistry of her body would change the scent, but she found one that would work for her and it was the unmistakable scent of white gardenia, and Sand & Sable became her signature scent. Sally was raised during the heyday of the drive-in restaurants, and she loved French fries and Pepsi. She was known for always having Pepsi stockpiled in the house and to the grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s delight she also loved Hostess chocolate donuts, Cherry Mash and Reese’s Cup candy and always kept the goodies on hand. Most importantly, Sally was saved and received the Holy Spirit February 10, 1956, at Bethel Temple Assembly of God in El Paso, Texas. Perhaps another reason she loved El Paso. God knew the date she would accept Jesus Christ as her savior and be filled with the Holy Spirit in 1956. We didn’t know, but God did. The date this happened February 10, is significant to our family because it is the birthdate of her first-born grandchild Britney and it was Britney that God was able to send to Sally’s bedside, from a business trip just before the Covid-19 complete shutdown in 2020, to lead her Mimi in a prayer to make sure Sally’s heart was sealed in Jesus Christ. We didn’t know, but God did. God knew that those closest to Sally would wonder if her bitterness and anger with God over the loss of her mother had caused her to lose her salvation. We didn’t know, but God did. God knew that her family would be praying in her last days to let her escape her suffering if her heart was right with God, but if not in His great mercy to let her endure and live through the pain in order to give her time to submit herself to Jesus. We didn’t know, but God did. God knew the number of her days and the circumstances that would exist in this broken world when His daughter Sally Lou’s health would begin failing and she would become bedridden. We didn’t know, but God did, so He in His Great Goodness gives her family a sign through a date in her mother Reva’s bible, unnoticed before her death, and the birthdate of a granddaughter who would be used to reassure her loved ones that February 10, 1956, her name was recorded and sealed in the Lamb’s Book of Life and we will see her again in Heaven. Sally is survived by: Her husband - Bill Barr of the home Kissimmee, FL. Her children - Sareva Greenhaw and husband Mark of Owasso, OK.; Sandee Sims and husband Cary of Owasso, OK.; Wendy Pruitt and husband Doug of Owasso, OK.; Mathew Barr of the home Kissimmee, FL. Mimi’s Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren - Britney Keirsey and husband Dustin and daughters MaKayla and Kaylee of Owasso, OK.; Aubrey Burns and husband Eric and sons Caden, Brayden and Zaiden of Owasso, OK.; Brittany Suarez and husband Yashua and daughters Faith and Sela of Cabot, AR.; Dakota Pruitt and son Tristan of Owasso, OK.; Haley Connor and husband TJ and daughter Mila and son Elias of Owasso, OK.; Tyler and Victoria Greenhaw and sons Judah, Gideon and Malachi of Owasso, OK.; Devin Pruitt of Owasso, OK.; Dillon and Sydney Pruitt and son River of Stillwater, OK.; Destiney Montgomery and husband Kyle daughter Luna and son Koah of Owasso, OK.; Her brothers and Sisters in Law - Opal Barr of Miami, OK.; Sue and Larry Madden of Joplin, MO.; Gary and Brenda Barr of Miami, OK.; Marilyn and Rick Thompson of Miami, OK.; Randy and Trendle Barr of Lowell, KS.; Phil and Norma Barr of Broken Arrow OK.; Her special friends - Jack “Jackie” Green of Owasso, OK.; Denna “Punkin Brown” Romero of Miami, OK.; Pequitta “Pete” Crabtree of Bixby, OK.; Margaret “Price” Thomas of Miami, OK.; Kathy Russell of Houston, TX.; Dana “Rhinehart” McFerrin of Broken Arrow, OK.; Glenn and Nancy Meyer of Kissimmee FL. Sally is also survived by too many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends to name. Sally was preceded in death by: Her parents - James “Bud” and Reva Mathews. Her aunt - Mary Kirby; Her aunt Charlene and husband Don Bernard; Her father and mother-in-law - Melvin and Delma Barr; Her brother - Lawrence “Butch” Mathews; Her grandson - Cody Greenhaw; Her brother’s in law - Ronny Barr, Jerry Barr, Larry Madden, Lawrence Barr, and wife Theo. Her cousins - Charles Lee “Doc” Foley; Larry Barr and his son Russell Barr. Her special friends - Drena “Abernathy” Linthicum of Picher, OK.; Deborah “Frogue” Greeves of Tulsa, OK.; Shelly Greeves Hartley of Miami OK.; Bea Rose of Coweta, OK.

Sally Lou Barr

March 31, 1945 - October 24, 2022