Barbara A. Jelonek

Barbara Anne Carson Jelonek was born September 23, 1920 and went home to be with our Lord on October 27, 2011. She is survived by her daughters, Marsha Ellen Walker and her husband Jonathan Walker and Diana Kay McGary and her husband Doug McGary along with her daughters father, Florian Jelonek. She is also survived by her nephew Chris Carson and niece Karen Carson, and great nephews, Jonathan Carson and Philip Hettlinger. Barbara Anne Carson Jelonek was born in Halls County between DeCab and St. Joseph, Missouri. She was born to John Henry Carson and Ellen Mae Thorpe Carson. Barbara earned her Bachelor's degree in education and taught all eight grades in a country school and then taught in St. Joseph, Missouri. Barbara grew up in a loving home on a farm with a strong christian background and has been a loyal active servant of our Lord Jesus all of her life in word and deed. She had one sister, Virginia Mae and one brother, John Thorpe Carson. She and her sister Virginia moved to St. Joseph and taught school until February 1949 when she met Florian Jelonek. They married and moved to Houston, Texas. Barbara was a stay at home mom for her daughters, Marsha Ellen and Diana Kay until the girls were out of high school. She then worked for Houston Independent School District in the transportation department, busing children to different schools. Barbara retired at the age of 70, sold her home in Houston and moved to Canyon Lake, Texas to be close to her girls. Barbara soon became active in her new church home, Canyon Lake United Methodist Church and also volunteered at the Canyon Lake Thrift Shop where she met many new and lasting friends. Barbara was always young at heart!!! She would go anywhere at any time happily with her children and friends. While in her 60's she would often be whisked away for a weekend of camping on Galveston Beach in Texas or Huntsville State Park by her son-in-law, Doug or daughter, Diana and countless friends. She was be a joy to be around. She could be found cooking or helping put up a tent. Upon moving to Canyon Lake she would enjoy rock looking or taking beautiful rides in the hills and on country roads. She wasn't much of a shopper but would go willingly on all day shopping trips with her friend Pat, Diana and Gayle. At the age of 73 Barbara went with her daughters to visit her childhood home on the farm where she was born and raised. She visited her childhood school house where she walked to from home and visited with friends and family she had grown up with in the country. At 75 Barbara and Marsha climbed to the top of Enchanted Rock State Park in Fredericksburg, Texas, a long climb that she happily made. At age 80 she and Marsha went to see the fall colors in Maine and took a ride on a whale boat standing on the bow to see the whales. The captain said, of all his whaling tours he had never seen so many kinds and numbers of whales swim so trustingly to his ship. We all know it was because precious Barbara was on board. At age 87 she saw her first view of the Pacific Ocean and hiked with Marsha through the 2000 year old Redwood Forest. In her 80's and 90's until her last birthday of 91, she went for several years for each birthday to Port Aransas, Texas, climbed serveral stairs to have an ocean view and celebrate her birthday with fresh shrimp and enjoying the company of her beloved niece, Karen Carson and nephew, Chris Carson, her brothers children who came to enjoy her love each birthday. Barbara has been an example of patience, love and forgiveness that Jesus teaches, uniting people in may walks of life, guiding them through many trials with non-judgemental exceptance. Jonathan and Marsha Walker, Doug and Diana McGary would like to honor Mama Barbara by saying, "In all our years with her we have never heard an unkind word spoken about anyone." She loved everyone and was always ready with a plate of food, a little money, a place to sleep and always a hug for anyone in need. What an amazing woman and a blessing to all! "With loving memory and always in our hearts"