Flosye D. Barnhill

Flosye Doris Barnhill, 98 of Fort Sumner, NM died Thursday, January 30, 2003 at Plains Regional Medical Center following a short illness. Flosye was born January 5, 1905 in Wellston, Oklahoma to the home of George Washington Gragg and the former VeOra Nash. She was reared, attended and graduated from high school at Lindsay, Oklahoma. She began teaching at age 17 in rural one room school houses in Oklahoma. She married LaFayette William Barnhill on May 3, 1929 in Chikasha, Oklahoma. She continued teaching at Maysville before moving to Pauls Valley, Oklahoma. She continued her education at Edmond, Oklahoma. In 1932 she and LaFayette homesteaded in the Dunlap, NM area where they ranched until 1941 when they bought a ranch west of House, NM and moved there. Flosye attended ENMU in Portales. She taught elementary and Junior High classes at the House School System until her retirement in 1965. Following her retirement she made her home in Fort Sumner in 1966. Flosye was a past member of National Education Assn., Cowbelles, Fort Sumner Womans Club, and was a member of Eastern Star while living in Oklahoma. She was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner where she was a member of the church choir. Flosye enjoyed playing bridge with her longtime Fort Sumner friends two or three time a week. She was a loving grandmother who enjoyed her grandchildren’s visits. She enjoyed traveling with her family. Flosye was preceded in death by her husband LaFayette William Barnhill on January 1, 1970; four brothers Lloyd, Ernest, Rollie, Arthur, and one sister Wilma Gragg Parker. Survivors include two daughters Johna Beth Parmer and husband Billy of Tucumcari, NM; Emily Kathryn Edwards and husband Brown of Clovis, NM; five grandchildren Jane McCharen and husband Richard of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Myra Stafford and husband Darrin of Los Alamos, NM; Carl Martin Parmer and wife Anne of House, NM; David Edwards of Albuquerque and Laura Edwards of Clovis, NM. Also surviving are five great-grandchildren Nicole Stafford, Natalie Stafford, Catie McCharen, Taylor Parmer, and Braden Parmer along with a host of nieces, nephews other relatives and many dear friends. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 P.M. Monday, February 3, 2002 from the First United Methodist Church in Fort Sumner with Rev. Monty Leavell officiating. Burial will follow in the family plot, Fort Sumner Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Billy Parmer, Brown Edwards, Richard McCharen, Darrin Stafford, Carl Parmer, and David Edwards. The family prefers memorials to the Fort Sumner Cemetery Association, Box 180, Fort Sumner, NM 88119 or to the First United Methodist Church P.O. Box 410; Fort Sumner, NM 88119 or the charity of one’s choice. Visitation will be Saturday and Sunday from 1PM to 6PM and Monday from 10AM to 12 noon at the funeral home. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home.