Barbara Cullender

Barbara Cullender, 90, of Canadian, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 28, 2017 in Canadian. Services will be 11:00 AM Saturday, April 1, 2017, at First Christian Church, with Matt Cook, minister, officiating. Burial will follow in Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery under the direction of Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Canadian. Barbara was born on August 14, 1926, at the family farm in Randall County to Ervin Arthur and Ethel Maude Root Michael.   She reminisced often of her idyllic childhood spent on the farm, with her brother Meade and sister Sandra. Barbara graduated from Canyon High School in 1943 and received her Bachelor’s degree in Education with a minor in Art from West Texas State. While at WT, she met the love of her life, Joe Cullender of Hartley. During Joe’s stint in the US Navy, he and Barbara exchanged many love letters, which she treasured and still read from daily. The college sweethearts married in 1946 and lived and taught in several Panhandle towns, including Stinnett, Gruver, and Adrian.   They arrived in Canadian in 1959 with four kids in tow, for Joe’s new position as Canadian High Principal. After taking a career break to raise her children, Barbara returned to teaching in 1967, and taught 3rd and 2nd grade for several years, before becoming Canadian’s first Kindergarten teacher. She always loved being recognized and remembered by her many former students. After Joe’s death in 1985, Barbara met and married Ray McLemore of Shamrock in 1993. The couple lived in the Shamrock area in the Lela community until Ray’s death in 2010. Barbara soon returned to live in Canadian, and moved to the Mesa View Assisted Living Center in 2015. Barbara loved the color blue, taking and sharing pictures, bluebonnet flowers, playing cards, big band music, old movies, romance novels, and most of all, spending time with her family. She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Meade Michael of Canyon, and daughter Carol Blair of Brownfield.   She is survived by a sister Sandra Swafford and husband Larry of Amarillo, son Mike Cullender and wife Linda of Dripping Springs, son Jeff Cullender and wife JJ of Canadian, daughter Cristy Daniell and husband Jeff of Florence, son-in-law Jerry Blair of Brownfield, eight grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.  Memorials may be made to First Christian Church, 402 Purcell Ave., Canadian, Texas 79014; or to the Canadian Education Foundation in Canadian. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 PM Friday, March 31, 2017, at Carmichael-Whatley of Canadian Funeral Home.