Barbara Ann (Shannon) Patterson-Beckley

The Lord graced the world by way of Florence Knox and Ralph Shannon, When Barbara Ann was born on January 24, 1948, in Corpus Christi, Texas. She graduated from Solomon Coles High School in 1966.

Barbara married her first husband, Willie Dan Patterson, Sr. and gained a stepson in Willie Dan Patterson, Jr. before being blessed with her first child, Ralph Christipher Patterson in 1968.

Barbara was an army wife, and she made her family's home wherever they were stationed. From Corpus Christi, to Germany, to Kansas, to Virginia and many more. It was in Kansas where she was blessed with her second child, Michael Gerard Patterson in 1973.

While stationed in Virginia, she set her sights on a career and attended beauty school and received the blessing of a daughter. The family adopted Phyllis Brittany Patterson in 1981, then moved back to Texas for good.

Barbara was equally open to changing direction as she was to standing her ground, always on her own terms. She spent years working as a beautician before transitioning to a career as an X-ray technician. Later, she returned to school and earned her bachelor's degree in social work from Corpus Christi State University (TAMUCC) in 1991. Barbara then began her career as a social worker, serving in mental health facilities, probation offices, and child welfare agencies across Nueces, Fayette, and Colorado counties.

In 1995, Barbara moved to Schulenburg, her mother's hometown, where she continued working until an autoimmune disorder forced her into early retirement. Over the years, she regularly played the piano both at home and in church, but eventually, retirement from this practice became a painful necessity.

In 2015, Barbara reunited with her first boyfriend from her teenage years, Clarence Beckley, and they were married. They remained in Schulenburg, where Clarence was embraced by her community. To regain strength and dexterity in her hands, Barbara began making rosaries. She crafted, blessed and donated more than 3,000 rosaries, which were sent to missionaries around the world.

On December 9, 2024, the Lord granted Barbara Ann His mercy, relieving her of the burdens of this life, and she was welcomed into eternal rest by her mother, Florence Katherine Knox Shannon, her father, Ralph Shannon, and many cousins, aunts, uncles, and lifelong friends.

Barbara leaves behind, to laugh and love, her husband, Rev. Clarence Beckley, her younger sister, Gayle West (Melvin), her sons, Christopher (Barbara), Michael (Lori), Willie (Janet) and her daughter, Phyllis (Andrea). From her very first to her vey last, Barbara has given to all of her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Many of them have her smile, and they all have her heart.

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