Daughter of Samuel James McGee of McKinney, Texas & Mary Ann Mays of Knob Lick, Metcalf, Kentucky.
Wife of Arthur Sylvesta (Sid) McNatt
Mother of Ann & Debi McNatt
A remarkable woman who lived a remarkable life.
She had been on her own since she was 16. She left the Catholic convent in Sherman, Texas in 1932. She wanted to see the world and all it had to offer.
Her travels took her to California, where she earned enough money to buy a ships ticket to Hawaii. She remained in Hawaii until WWII was eminent. She sailed to Vancouver, Canada and reentered the US at Seattle, Washington. While in Vancouver she attended a parade honoring the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. She worked her way back to Texas and opened her first of many Cafes and Private Clubs.
She married Sid McNatt in 1956. She loved to tell the story of the day she married. "Well it was Veterans Day, Sid had the day off and I just did not want to go to work. I called my boss and said, I'm getting married, see you when I get back!" She and Sid moved to Corpus Christi, Texas. In her words, "...he fished a lot and worked a little". They lived up and down the Texas coast from Galveston to Corpus Christi.
In 1957, they were living in Freeport when Hurricane Audry made landfall. Barbara decided to tack a beach towel over the window to keep the sea spray out of their beach house. At mid-night, after the beach patrol ordered everyone off the beach, Barbara, Sid, a niece and nephew waded water and slept safely in a motel. The next day the beach house was gone. She wasn't worried about the beach house, but she searched for hours hoping to find that beach towel! Her niece lost all of her clothes. Barbara, with a unique ability to make anything out of nothing made new clothes for the niece. Her niece sported the only "Olive Green Bikini" made from a cashmere sweater. The bikini was a scandal, the niece was 7 and no one in Freeport had ever seen a bikini. Barbara didn't know what all the fuss was about, after all, women in Hawaii had been wearing them for years!
In 1959, Debi arrived and her life changed forever. Everyday for the next 49 years were dedicated to Debi. While she loved us all, Debi was her prayer answered. She was going to be the best mother God had ever blessed with a child. She was, right up to the day she died. Her concern was not focused on her failing health, it was Debi. "Go home, you are tired. The weather is bad, you might get hurt."
She was a business woman, artist, seamstress, poet, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, an advocate for children, & our family Matriarch.
She loved and supported anyone down on their luck. She once held two men at gun point until the police arrived. When asked, "Why", she responded, "...he was an old man, couldn't help himself, someone had to help him." If a baby was sick, she was up all night. Nothing was to much to ask; Barbara was there.
She had 2 requests concerning her burial, "Take Me Back to Texas" and bury me in my Pink $300.00 dress!"
Not many people pass through this world and leave an indelible mark, she did. She was the last member of our family to carry the McNatt surname. Her passing is truly the end of an era.
She lived 91 yrs, 11 mos, & 8 days. Aunt Barbara was a survivor and I believe she survived for 91 years because of her philosophy of life; "...if you can't do anything about it, don't worry about it!"
Wife of Arthur Sylvesta (Sid) McNatt
Mother of Ann & Debi McNatt
A remarkable woman who lived a remarkable life.
She had been on her own since she was 16. She left the Catholic convent in Sherman, Texas in 1932. She wanted to see the world and all it had to offer.
Her travels took her to California, where she earned enough money to buy a ships ticket to Hawaii. She remained in Hawaii until WWII was eminent. She sailed to Vancouver, Canada and reentered the US at Seattle, Washington. While in Vancouver she attended a parade honoring the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. She worked her way back to Texas and opened her first of many Cafes and Private Clubs.
She married Sid McNatt in 1956. She loved to tell the story of the day she married. "Well it was Veterans Day, Sid had the day off and I just did not want to go to work. I called my boss and said, I'm getting married, see you when I get back!" She and Sid moved to Corpus Christi, Texas. In her words, "...he fished a lot and worked a little". They lived up and down the Texas coast from Galveston to Corpus Christi.
In 1957, they were living in Freeport when Hurricane Audry made landfall. Barbara decided to tack a beach towel over the window to keep the sea spray out of their beach house. At mid-night, after the beach patrol ordered everyone off the beach, Barbara, Sid, a niece and nephew waded water and slept safely in a motel. The next day the beach house was gone. She wasn't worried about the beach house, but she searched for hours hoping to find that beach towel! Her niece lost all of her clothes. Barbara, with a unique ability to make anything out of nothing made new clothes for the niece. Her niece sported the only "Olive Green Bikini" made from a cashmere sweater. The bikini was a scandal, the niece was 7 and no one in Freeport had ever seen a bikini. Barbara didn't know what all the fuss was about, after all, women in Hawaii had been wearing them for years!
In 1959, Debi arrived and her life changed forever. Everyday for the next 49 years were dedicated to Debi. While she loved us all, Debi was her prayer answered. She was going to be the best mother God had ever blessed with a child. She was, right up to the day she died. Her concern was not focused on her failing health, it was Debi. "Go home, you are tired. The weather is bad, you might get hurt."
She was a business woman, artist, seamstress, poet, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, an advocate for children, & our family Matriarch.
She loved and supported anyone down on their luck. She once held two men at gun point until the police arrived. When asked, "Why", she responded, "...he was an old man, couldn't help himself, someone had to help him." If a baby was sick, she was up all night. Nothing was to much to ask; Barbara was there.
She had 2 requests concerning her burial, "Take Me Back to Texas" and bury me in my Pink $300.00 dress!"
Not many people pass through this world and leave an indelible mark, she did. She was the last member of our family to carry the McNatt surname. Her passing is truly the end of an era.
She lived 91 yrs, 11 mos, & 8 days. Aunt Barbara was a survivor and I believe she survived for 91 years because of her philosophy of life; "...if you can't do anything about it, don't worry about it!"
Daughter of Samuel James McGee of McKinney, Texas & Mary Ann Mays of Knob Lick, Metcalf, Kentucky.
Wife of Arthur Sylvesta (Sid) McNatt
Mother of Ann & Debi McNatt
A remarkable woman who lived a remarkable life.
She had been on her own since she was 16. She left the Catholic convent in Sherman, Texas in 1932. She wanted to see the world and all it had to offer.
Her travels took her to California, where she earned enough money to buy a ships ticket to Hawaii. She remained in Hawaii until WWII was eminent. She sailed to Vancouver, Canada and reentered the US at Seattle, Washington. While in Vancouver she attended a parade honoring the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. She worked her way back to Texas and opened her first of many Cafes and Private Clubs.
She married Sid McNatt in 1956. She loved to tell the story of the day she married. "Well it was Veterans Day, Sid had the day off and I just did not want to go to work. I called my boss and said, I'm getting married, see you when I get back!" She and Sid moved to Corpus Christi, Texas. In her words, "...he fished a lot and worked a little". They lived up and down the Texas coast from Galveston to Corpus Christi.
In 1957, they were living in Freeport when Hurricane Audry made landfall. Barbara decided to tack a beach towel over the window to keep the sea spray out of their beach house. At mid-night, after the beach patrol ordered everyone off the beach, Barbara, Sid, a niece and nephew waded water and slept safely in a motel. The next day the beach house was gone. She wasn't worried about the beach house, but she searched for hours hoping to find that beach towel! Her niece lost all of her clothes. Barbara, with a unique ability to make anything out of nothing made new clothes for the niece. Her niece sported the only "Olive Green Bikini" made from a cashmere sweater. The bikini was a scandal, the niece was 7 and no one in Freeport had ever seen a bikini. Barbara didn't know what all the fuss was about, after all, women in Hawaii had been wearing them for years!
In 1959, Debi arrived and her life changed forever. Everyday for the next 49 years were dedicated to Debi. While she loved us all, Debi was her prayer answered. She was going to be the best mother God had ever blessed with a child. She was, right up to the day she died. Her concern was not focused on her failing health, it was Debi. "Go home, you are tired. The weather is bad, you might get hurt."
She was a business woman, artist, seamstress, poet, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, an advocate for children, & our family Matriarch.
She loved and supported anyone down on their luck. She once held two men at gun point until the police arrived. When asked, "Why", she responded, "...he was an old man, couldn't help himself, someone had to help him." If a baby was sick, she was up all night. Nothing was to much to ask; Barbara was there.
She had 2 requests concerning her burial, "Take Me Back to Texas" and bury me in my Pink $300.00 dress!"
Not many people pass through this world and leave an indelible mark, she did. She was the last member of our family to carry the McNatt surname. Her passing is truly the end of an era.
She lived 91 yrs, 11 mos, & 8 days. Aunt Barbara was a survivor and I believe she survived for 91 years because of her philosophy of life; "...if you can't do anything about it, don't worry about it!"
Wife of Arthur Sylvesta (Sid) McNatt
Mother of Ann & Debi McNatt
A remarkable woman who lived a remarkable life.
She had been on her own since she was 16. She left the Catholic convent in Sherman, Texas in 1932. She wanted to see the world and all it had to offer.
Her travels took her to California, where she earned enough money to buy a ships ticket to Hawaii. She remained in Hawaii until WWII was eminent. She sailed to Vancouver, Canada and reentered the US at Seattle, Washington. While in Vancouver she attended a parade honoring the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. She worked her way back to Texas and opened her first of many Cafes and Private Clubs.
She married Sid McNatt in 1956. She loved to tell the story of the day she married. "Well it was Veterans Day, Sid had the day off and I just did not want to go to work. I called my boss and said, I'm getting married, see you when I get back!" She and Sid moved to Corpus Christi, Texas. In her words, "...he fished a lot and worked a little". They lived up and down the Texas coast from Galveston to Corpus Christi.
In 1957, they were living in Freeport when Hurricane Audry made landfall. Barbara decided to tack a beach towel over the window to keep the sea spray out of their beach house. At mid-night, after the beach patrol ordered everyone off the beach, Barbara, Sid, a niece and nephew waded water and slept safely in a motel. The next day the beach house was gone. She wasn't worried about the beach house, but she searched for hours hoping to find that beach towel! Her niece lost all of her clothes. Barbara, with a unique ability to make anything out of nothing made new clothes for the niece. Her niece sported the only "Olive Green Bikini" made from a cashmere sweater. The bikini was a scandal, the niece was 7 and no one in Freeport had ever seen a bikini. Barbara didn't know what all the fuss was about, after all, women in Hawaii had been wearing them for years!
In 1959, Debi arrived and her life changed forever. Everyday for the next 49 years were dedicated to Debi. While she loved us all, Debi was her prayer answered. She was going to be the best mother God had ever blessed with a child. She was, right up to the day she died. Her concern was not focused on her failing health, it was Debi. "Go home, you are tired. The weather is bad, you might get hurt."
She was a business woman, artist, seamstress, poet, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, an advocate for children, & our family Matriarch.
She loved and supported anyone down on their luck. She once held two men at gun point until the police arrived. When asked, "Why", she responded, "...he was an old man, couldn't help himself, someone had to help him." If a baby was sick, she was up all night. Nothing was to much to ask; Barbara was there.
She had 2 requests concerning her burial, "Take Me Back to Texas" and bury me in my Pink $300.00 dress!"
Not many people pass through this world and leave an indelible mark, she did. She was the last member of our family to carry the McNatt surname. Her passing is truly the end of an era.
She lived 91 yrs, 11 mos, & 8 days. Aunt Barbara was a survivor and I believe she survived for 91 years because of her philosophy of life; "...if you can't do anything about it, don't worry about it!"
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