Barbara Ann Lish Obituary (1935

Barbara Ann Lish died peacefully on September 11, 2019, after a long, heart-wrenching decline brought on by dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. She is survived by her husband, Don Lish of Midlothian; brother, James Shillingburg and wife, Sally, of Burnet, Texas, and brother, Tommy Shillingburg, and wife, Sue, of Belton, Texas; son, Mike Lish and wife, Lynn, of Prosper, Texas, son, David Lish and wife, Krista, of Caldwell, Texas, and son, Mark Lish, and wife, Melissa, of Midlothian, Texas; and many adoring grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Katie Telschow, and husband, Mark, of Austin, Texas, and great-grandchildren, Evan, Clara & Philip; Kimberly Deirks, and husband David, of McKinney, Texas, and great-granddaughters, Evelyn and Molly; Bobby Lish, and wife, Chelsea, of Austin; Texas; Kelly Bailey, and husband, David, of Austin, Texas; Stacey Reis, and husband, Ashton, of Austin, Texas and great grandchildren, Reilly and Ethan; Courtney LaForte, and husband Brent, of Huntsville, Alabama; Stephanie Lish, of New York, New York; and Monica Lish, of Dallas, Texas. Barbara was born at her parent's home in Dublin, Texas on May 5, 1935, where she lived as a child and attended 1st and 2nd grade, before moving to west Texas; first to Lamesa and then to Kermit, where her father worked in the oil fields. She played in the Kermit High School Band and after graduating from High School in 1953, went on to attend Odessa-Permian Junior College and then North Texas University, where she majored in Business Administration and met the love of her life, Don, whom she married on September 7, 1957. During the years that followed, Don and Barbara lived in Farmers Branch, Texas, Oklahoma City, and Lawton, Oklahoma, before finally settling in Midlothian in 1974. For a few years during the mid-70's, Barbara worked at the Armed Forces Exchange Service in Duncanville before beginning work in the Administrative Offices of Gerdau Steel in Midlothian, which was then known as "Chaparral Steel". She was devoted to her parents, Eslie & Lucy Shillingburg, her family, and her extended family, as well, and was always one of the first to arrive (and last to leave) at annual family reunions in Stephenville and Dublin, Texas, where she always came with plenty of fried chicken, casseroles and deserts to share with her extended family. Barbara was a faithful member of the First United Methodist Church of Midlothian for more than four (4) decades, until the effects of her disease left her unable to continue attending regular worship services. Although her husband, Don, cared for her at home for as long as he could, there came a time when it became clear that he could no longer provide Barbara with the care that she needed, even with in-home health aids. Following a brief hospitalization and few months of rehabilitation at Midlothian Health Care Center, Barbara became a resident of Timber Rock House, a small-group, residential assisted living center located at 3021 Timber Rock Lane in Midlothian, which was founded in 2016 and is located just a few hundred yards down the street from where her youngest son, Mark and his wife, Melissa, have lived since 2002. There she received patient, loving and attentive care, and was well-loved by her family, staff and other residents, for all of her remaining days. The family is ever grateful to Debbie and Andy Corkin and all their staff, for the loving comfort and joy they gave to Barbara during that time. They are truly angels in our eyes. Barbara's husband, family and friends were the joy of her life, and she was greatly loved by all who were blessed to know her and to be loved by her. Though she will be sorely missed, we know that somewhere in heaven, she is rejoicing with her parents, uncles and aunts and loved ones who passed before her, and anxiously awaiting the great reunion that is yet to come for those who believe in Jesus and who choose to accept His grace and gift of eternal life. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Timber Rock House (https://timberrockhouse.com/), and/or the First United Methodist Church of Midlothian, Texas (https://www.fumcmidlo.org/).