Geneva Mcguire

Mrs. McGuire passed from this life Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 11:10 A.M. in Grove, Oklahoma. She was a life long resident of Topsy community where she was a devoted homemaker to her husband, Herman Barnwell whom she married July 1, 1950 in Bentonville, Arkansas and to her children. Ms. Geneva was born September 24, 1930 in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. She attended Walker elementary school and upon graduating from the eighth grade was accepted to Chilocco Indian Boarding School near Arkansas City, Kansas. She remained at Chilocco for three years where her life was shaped and influenced in various ways. Many, many times she recounted how grateful she was to her elementary teacher Mrs. Fannie Hass for encouraging her to fulfill her potential and attend boarding school. Ms. Geneva was a great story teller. She often shared stories about such things as white glove room inspections at Chilocco as she taught her children the value of a clean home. She also told how Pretty Boy Floyd had once visited her father's all night garage in Fort Gibson seeking a new windshield. Ms. Geneva enjoyed the beauty of all nature bur especially that of birds and flowers. She was proud of her Native American heritage and the fact that she was one-half Cherokee. She spoke the Cherokee language but didn't often get the opportunity. She loved and cherished her family and friends and was always ready for a visitor. Ms Geneva will also be remembered for her great sense of humor and how she loved to tease and laugh. She leaves behind many beautiful embroidered items and paintings that she did in her spare time. Ms Geneva was intelligent, independent and assertive. She was a good judge of character and could easily speak her mind; a true mentor for any young lady of the 21st century and certainly a lady ahead of her time. Mrs. McGuire was preceded in death by her husband of forty-three years, Herman Edward Barnwell; two daughters, Betty Jo Barnwell and Linda Kirby; her parents James Harvey Lawhead and Lila White Lawhead; also by two sisters Edna Six and Lily Rethorst. Ms. Geneva is survived by William McGuire whom she married on May 31, 1995. Other survivors include one son James Barnwell and Cathy Spears of Pryor; three daughters Judy Sturges and husband Raymond of Tospy, Bobbi Whitlock and husband Keith of Broken Arrow, Mary Foremand and husband Jack of Grove along with twelve grandchildren, thirty-two great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Serving as casket bearers will be Eddie Barnwell, Tim Barnwell, Kevin Sturges, Dr. Brian Whitlock, Charles Hass and John Leppla. Honorary casket bearer will be Ridge Sturges, Tobius Barnwell, Tyler Buzzard and Jake Ellis. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 21, 2011 at the First Assembly of God Church in Jay, Oklahoma with Reverend Bill Goldner officiating. Ms. Geneva will be laid to rest at the Mose Ridge Cemetery in Topsy, Oklahoma. Services are under the directions of Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home in Jay, Oklahoma. Friends and family may leave online condolences by viewing Ms. Geneva's obituary at www.honoringmemories.com or by following the link on Facebook.

Visitation Details

Monday, June 20th, 2011 6:00pm - 8:00pm, Worley-Luginbuel Funeral Home - Jay

Service Details

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011 10:00am, First Assembly of God - Jay

Interment Details

Mose Ridge Cemetery