Ola Mae Barfield

Ola Mae Barfield, age 94, of Wharton passed away late Sunday evening, October 7, 2018 here in Wharton.  She was born on September 30, 1924, in Cedar City, Utah to the late Ollie Marion and Violet Crawford Norris.   Ola Mae was raised in the Monroe, Utah area and graduated from Monroe High School. She moved to San Diego in the early 1940’s where she met and married Merrell (Doc) Barfield Jr. They were married while he was in the military on July 10, 1943 in Glendale, CA.  Doc preceded her in death on December 16, 2013.  Merrell and Ola lived many places, but in Wharton she was at one time secretary of Wharton High School.  During their early life together, they opened their home and helped to raise several of Doc’s siblings.  When living in the Dominican Republic Ola was a kindergarten aide in a private school and was also an elementary school aid in Gause, Texas,  and was gifted at teaching children to read.  After returning to live in Wharton she became the director of the Wharton Outreach Program, teaching special needs adults.  Ola Mae enjoyed arts and crafts and was always making beautiful decorations for the annual Christmas Bazaar and the Wharton Gala.   While her girls were growing up, she sewed all of their dresses for special occasions such as prom and wedding dresses.   In her later years she enjoyed working crossword puzzles and was an avid reader.  She was a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Wharton for many years. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Amy Davis and brothers, Tom Norris, Richard Norris and Billy Jed Norris. Ola Mae is survived by her daughters, Eva Kaye McKinney and husband, Clay, of Wharton; Anne Wirtz and husband, Mike, of Brenham and Tommie Deniece Montgomery and husband, David, of Chappell Hill; her grandchildren, Will and Paige Wirtz, Sarah Wirtz Keniston and Corey Keniston, Christine McKinney Sutton and Patrick Sutton and Jennifer McKinney; and great grandchildren Anna Keniston, Kyle Wirtz, Mikayla Sutton, Evan Keniston, Ian Wirtz and Grace Sutton.  She is also survived by her sister, Cora Lutz of Utah and brother, Bob Norris of Oregon; and Doc’s brother that they helped raise, Uncle-brother Billy Joe Barfield and wife, Annette and their children Michelle and Rene Torres and Will Barfield and grandchildren Silas, Joshua and Isaiah Torres.   Visitation will be held on Friday evening, October 12, 2018 from 5:00 until 7:00 pm at First Baptist Church in Wharton.  Funeral services are set for Saturday, October 13, 2018 at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church with Rev. Tony Wishert officiating. Burial will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be grandsons: Commander Will Wirtz (US Navy retired), Patrick Sutton, and Captain Corey Keniston,(US Navy) ; great grandsons Kyle Wirtz and Evan Keniston; and nephew Will Barfield.  Honorary pallbearers are great grandchildren Ian Wirtz, Anna Keniston Mikayla Sutton and Grace Sutton.   In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Ola Mae’s name to her granddaughter, Jennifer McKinney, who serves as a missionary in Asia.   Funeral Services under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at whartonfuneralhome.com.