Vernell Barbee

Vernell (Nell) Barbee Died Sunday June 22, in Topeka. She was born in Whitesboro, Texas, September 16, 1918, the daughter of Price and Minnie Harp Phillips. She married George C. Barbee of Gunter, Texas, on July 30, 1937. He survives as do her son and daughter -in-law, George and Jean Barbee, Topeka. Mrs. Barbee also leaves five grandchildren: Tracy Foutz, Dallas, Texas; Mark Barbee, Topeka, Kansas; Melissa Scrivner, Olathe, Kansas; Rebecca Donnelly, The Colony, Texas; and Deana Correll, Shawnee, Kansas; and eight great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother Grady Phillips.

Mrs. Barbee was the first employee of Dr. Stanley Pearle, the founder of Pearle Optical, Dallas, Texas. She and Mrs. Pearle made up the entire staff when Dr. Pearle began his discount optometric corporation. The company grew and she stayed with Dr. Pearle as personal assistant and travel planner for him and Mrs.Pearle for twenty-eight years.

Since retiring Mr. Barbee had enjoyed living in Horseshoe Bend just outside of Weatherford, Texas, until moving to Topeka in 2001 to the McCrite Plaza Retirement Community.

Mrs. Barbee was a member of First Baptist Church, Horseshoe Bend, Weatherford, Texas.
Visistation will be held at the Waldo Funeral Home in Sherman, Texas on Tuesday, June 24, 6:00PM-8:00PM, Services will be at the Wlado Funeral Home, Sherman, Texas at 2:00 PM Wednesday, June 25, 2003. Interment will be at Cedarlawn Memorial Park, Sherman, Texas