Barbara Chapin Jamison, age 104 of Wichita Falls passed away on January 19, 2021. Barbara lived a long and productive life, which spanned more than a century and saw dramatic changes in our world and the society in which we live. A private family internment will be held at Byers cemetery on Thursday, January 21, 2021.

Barbara was born on November 10, 1916 on the Chapin farm in Clay County, Texas to J.G.S. "Stillman" and Mattie (Henderson) Chapin.  She was the youngest of four children – brother, Floyd, and sisters Grace and Juanita.

The young Barbara began her lifelong quest for knowledge when at five years old she started school in the Pecan Grove one-room school located on land donated by her parents and the neighboring Groves family.  Her oldest sister, Grace, was her first teacher, whom her parents admonished her to mind.  Barbara did mind Grace at school, but at home was another story.

Barbara entered 6 ^th grade at age 11 and transferred to school in Petrolia.  Although she did not have a driver's license, and had never heard of such a thing, Barbara started driving herself to school in the family's Model T Ford.  Many years later, she obtained a license by sending 25 cents to Austin.

Barbara graduated from Petrolia High School in 1932 at age 15 and entered Texas State College for Women (now Texas Women's University) in Denton, Texas.  Young and homesick, Barbara spent her first semester crying. However, by the end of the semester she had made some lifelong friends.

In May of 1936, Barbara graduated from college with a Bachelor of Science
Degree with a major in Library Science.  In September of that year, she began a job at Harrold High School as a librarian of very few books, and study hall supervisor of high school students, some of whom were older than she was. She was briefly the children's librarian at the Lucius Beebe Memorial Library in Wakefield, Massachusetts, and the children's librarian at the public library in Walla Walla, Washington.

On December 27, 1937, Barbara began her distinguished 45-year career at the Kemp Public Library in Wichita Falls. Mrs. J. A. Kemp interviewed and hired Barbara to be the children's librarian.  She retired from the library as head librarian in 1982.

Barbara delighted in the activities of her nieces and nephews and was a strong influence in their education.  Barbara was a strict grammarian, and she instilled the necessity of proper grammar, both spoken and written, and an appreciation of books and learning in all of her nieces and nephews.  She was always quick to locate research materials and aid in preparation of many school reports.  Not surprisingly, her gifts to her family were usually books.

In 1955, Barbara married Jack B. Jamison.  In 1986, the Jamisons moved to Presbyterian Manor.  Jack and Barbara were married until Jack's death in 1988.

While residing at Presbyterian Manor, Barbara was a loving caregiver to her sisters, Grace Chapin and Juanita Smith, and her brother-in-law Harold Smith.  Barbara continued to live at Presbyterian Manor until her death.  Barbara was a great lady with a keen sense of humor. All who knew Barbara will remember her for her love of chocolate.  The family wishes to thank the administration and staff of Presbyterian Manor for the compassionate and tender care Barbara received there.

Along with her parents, her husband Jack B. Jamison, her brother Floyd, her sisters Juanita and Grace, as well as her nephew and his wife, John and Carolyn Chapin, preceded Barbara in death.

Her niece Lois Roberson, her great-nephews Steven Cross, Randall and Rodney Chapin, great-nieces Janice Scanlan and Luanne Roberson, and numerous great-great nieces and nephews survive Barbara.  Her family loved her deeply and all will sorely miss her.

Memorials may be made to Presbyterian Manor Good Samaritan Fund.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.lunnscolonial.com.