"Barbara Jean (Harmon) Beach", 63, was born May 17, 1951 in Cherokee, OK and departed this life and stepped into heaven on Sunday, October 5, 2014 following a courageous battle with cancer.

Barbara was the daughter of Dale Harmon and Florence Young Harmon. She was the third of ten children. Siblings include sisters Sherry & Bob Lowden of Mancheca, TX; Louise & Rob Kirkpatrick of Burlington, OK; Deb Engle of Cherokee, OK; and Nancy Young of CO. Brothers are Larry Harmon of Alva, OK; Ron Harmon of Lockhart, TX; Keith & Tammy Harmon of Cherokee, OK; Robert Harmon of West Minster, CO; and Jeffrey Harmon of Cherokee, OK.

Barbara's family moved from Plainville, KS to Byron when she was in the sixth grade. She attended Byron-Driftwood school through her junior year and graduated from Burlington High School in 1969. Barbara worked at a number of local cafes including Tighe's Cafe of Byron. That was where she met her future husband. After graduation she enlisted in the US Navy training in Maryland and California. She opted to forgo a military career to marry her first love, Marion Warren Beach. They were married on July 6, 1971 in Amorita.

Barbara and Marion established their first home in Blackwell. They later moved to Sand Springs. Barbara began taking classes at the University Center of Tulsa and graduated in 1997 with a BS in Early Childhood Education. She taught Pre-K, Kindergarten, and Second grade for the Tulsa Public School system; however, her first love was pre-K. Barbara's love and care for her students was immeasurable.

Barbara was an avid genealogist. She researched her family lineage on the Young and Harmon sides plus Marion's family, the Beach and Flowers sides. She took great pride in finding new information. Her holidays and spare time were spent digging through libraries, courthouses, and publishing office archives in addition to walking cemeteries reading headstones in search of new information. She was also adept at computer searches. Barbara involved herself in her children's many school and extracurricular activities -- and later those of her grandchildren whenever possible.

Barbara was a faithful member of the Lakeview Christian Church in Mannford, OK. Her faith was the bedrock of her life and an inspiration to many. Her brave battle these last months was a beautiful picture of her love of Jesus and her assurance of her home in glory.

Those surviving Barbara include her husband Marion of the home; her children, Bryan Wade and wife, Melissa of Maryland; Jennifer Bowen and husband, Brant, of Sand Springs. Grandchildren, Kieran and Briseis Beach, Justin, Peyton, Bryce, Evan, and Sawyer Bowen whom she loved dearly. She is survived by her brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, her church family, and many other relatives and friends who have been blessed by knowing her. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents.

Family received friends, 4-7pm Monday, October 6th at the Mannford Funeral Home in Mannford, OK. A funeral service was held at 10:00am on Tuesday, October 7th at Lakeview Christian Church in Mannford, under the direction of Mannford Funeral Home, Mannford, OK.

Family recieved friends 4-7pm Tuesday, October 7th, at Lanman Funeral Home in Cherokee, OK. A service was held at 10:00am on Wednesday, October 8th in the Lanman Funeral Home Chapel and interment followed at Byron-Amorita Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given to Share Hospice in Alva, OK, in Barbara's memory.