Doris Barnes

Doris Ella Raabe Barnes of Beebe, Arkansas, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 4, 2008, at Baptist Medical Center-North Little Rock. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Beebe, Arkansas. Doris was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, on June 26, 1918, to Charles Andrew and Addie Goodwin Raabe. The family moved to the Almyra area when she was six months old where her father was a rice farmer. She was graduated from Almyra Public Schools and Texas Woman's University in Denton, Texas.

She began her lifelong career of librarianship and education with ASU-Beebe, formerly Beebe Junior Agricultural College, in August of 1941. She retired in 1983 as Emeritus Head Librarian.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Dee Barnes, Jr. Doris met Dee in church in 1941. He had just returned from California, and said that when he saw Doris in church he "just liked the look of that new librarian." They were married June 14, 1942 in the Almyra Baptist Church. Dee and Doris were married 37 1/2 years before his death in 1980. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Ralph and an infant brother.

Doris was saved as a young girl in Almyra Baptist Church. She immediately found a new church home with the First Baptist Church of Beebe upon her arrival in 1941. Doris has been a very active and faithful servant of the church throughout her life. She enjoyed Prime Timers, previously serving as chairman of its planning committee. She also was a member of the Ukulele band, and church librarian. She participated in many activities of the Shepherd Center of Beebe.

As a community member she helped raise money for the Youth Center that was active during the 1950's and sponsored activities for the youth of Beebe. (There were no regular city sponsored activities for the young people. Parents and schools were the only sponsors and chaperones.) She was an active member of the White County Library Board for many years. A long-time member of the B & P W Club, she served as President and was selected as Woman of the Year in 1980. She took pride in serving as a voting precinct worker for many elections.

As an ASU employee, along with regular duties and committee participation through the years, she taught English and sponsored Pep Club and cheerleading. She has served on the Development Council of ASU-Beebe.

Survivors are daughters Carolyn of Greers Ferry, Arkansas, and Robbye of San Antonio, Texas. Dee and Doris also raised a niece, Vickie Springer of Valdez, Alaska. Doris is survived by eight grandchildren, Deena, Alexa, Hilaire, Derek, Chad, Sarah, Tyler and Caleb; and fourteen great-grandchildren, Samantha, Sabrina, Liam, Ella, Cora, Shayna, Gwendolyn, Kayla, Cordell, Cameron, Ethan, Elizabeth, Morgan, Madisan and Isabel.

Family will receive friends from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe. Funeral will be 2:00 p.m. Saturday, September 6, 2008, at First Baptist Church, Beebe, with burial in Beebe Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, 101 Hwy 64 West, Beebe AR 72012, or Doris Barnes Memorial Fund, ASU-Beebe Foundation, PO Box 1000, Beebe AR 72012.