Barnes, Melba Jo

Melba Jo Barnes, known to friends as Jo, slipped away quietly Saturday, March 24, 2012, at the age of 87.

She was born Dec. 21, 1924, in Sherman, Texas, to Jesse Davis Gathright and Della Caraway Gathright. She attended school in Texas and graduated in 1942 from Sherman High School.

Jo married Billy L. (Bill) Barnes on Dec. 5, 1943, at Carlsbad Air Force Base. They resided in Sherman and Fort Worth, Texas and Champaign, Ill., before moving to Iowa City, Iowa in 1955, when Bill (Dean Emeritus of the College of Business Administration and Accounting faculty) joined the accounting faculty in the College of Business Administration.

She was employed at First Presbyterian Church as financial secretary, retiring in 1988, and where she'd been a member since 1960. Jo was a lifetime member of Mercy Hospital Guild, had been a member of University Club since 1955, and a member of the University of Iowa Presidents Club and I-Club.

Jo's life was fulfilled and sustained by her faith, her family and her friends. She raised a family of three girls, supported Bill with his career, and contributed her time to her community. Jo maintained relationships with friends from elementary school (with whom she still corresponded via the Internet) to her new Wentworth neighborhood friends. And then, there were all friends near and dear to her heart in between. Jo embraced meeting new people, valued all friendships and felt blessed by their presence in her life. In her private time, she enjoyed reading, working crossword puzzles and needle work.

Jo is survived by her children, Kay Barnes Eubank (Bob) of Iowa City, Cynthia Jeanne Guerra (Luis), St Petersburg, Fla., and Tracy Ann Rogers (Jim), Inverness, Ill.; grandchildren, Stephanie Ewing (Bob), Minneapolis, Chad Eubank (Jennifer), Allen, Texas, Callie Jo Rogers and Hannah Marie Rogers of Inverness, Ill.; and great-grandchildren, Katy Jo Pennington, Samuel Forest Eubank, Evelyn Jo Eubank and Ruby Mia Eubank. She had a special place in her heart for Dave, Wyonna and Priscilla.

She was predeceased by her husband, Bill; her parents, two sisters and an infant brother.

Her family will enjoy meeting old and new friends of Jo's and reminiscing at Gay & Ciha Funeral Home, Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. A private family service will be held later.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Jo and Bill Barnes Accounting Scholarship Fund c/o U of I Foundation or Iowa City Hospice.

Online condolences may be sent for her family through the web at www.gayandciha.com.

Published March 26, 2012 in The Gazette