Barbara Ann Keener Atkinson

Barbara Ann Keener Atkinson passed away peacefully at her home in Gonzales, Texas on the morning of Monday, July 29, 2024, with the love of her family surrounding her. Barbara was born in Amarillo, Texas on August 12, 1937, and, after a brief stay in Somerset, Texas, settled with her family in Waelder, located in Gonzales County. As a Waelder Wildcat who graduated in the Waelder High School Class of 1955, she excelled on the basketball and volleyball court as a player, and off the court as a cheerleader, cheering on the boy’s basketball team. It was there she met the love of her life, Bobby Guy Atkinson to whom she was married for six months shy of 70 years.

Barbara held many roles throughout her life. She was a telephone operator and bank teller in San Antonio, a doctor’s assistant in the Waelder and Gonzales medical clinics, receptionist at Ralston Purina and Tyson in Gonzales, part-time teacher at East Avenue Elementary, and bookkeeper for Southern Clay Products for more than 36 years. Her civic duties included work as the Waelder City Clerk and Librarian, and many happy years with the Gonzales Chapter of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority group. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in. Gonzales where she contributed to the development of the Methodist Youth Fellowship program and LOGOS. Somehow in the midst of it all, with four children in school and fully employed by Southern Clay and on the family poultry farm, during evenings, Barbara attended Texas Lutheran College in Seguin, Texas, maintaining a 4.0 grade point average and earning an accounting certificate to reinforce her bookkeeping skills.

Of all her roles, however, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother were the titles she held most high. As a mother, she modeled excellence for her children, not only in the way they were expected to behave, but how they should become and treat others along the way. The light and happiness she brought into the world for her family and anyone else she met shines on through the nature, music, sports, and the simple joy of discovering something new that she taught us to love.

Barbara was preceded in death by her parents Terry George and Mattie Bell Keener, and her four brothers: Don, Rondal (Pete), Waymond, and Max. She is survived by her husband Bobby Guy Atkinson, her four children George, John, Pam, and Albert, 10 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren.

A visitation will be held from 12:30 P.M. to 2:00 P.M. at the Seydler - Hill Funeral Home in Gonzales, Texas on August 6, 2024, followed by a funeral service at 2:00 P.M. at Seydler - Hill with interment following at the Thompsonville Community Cemetery in Thompsonville, Texas.

The family wishes to thank members of the St. Christus hospice care team, Craig Cardiovascular, and Dr. Terry Eska.

Family and friends may leave their condolences online by visiting www.seydlerhillfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Thompsonville Cemetery Association.

All services are under the care and direction of Seydler – Hill Funeral Home.