Betty “Barbara” (Gresham) Bledsoe, daughter of the late Henry Hiram and Myrtle Mae (Reynolds) Gresham, was born Jan. 14, 1937, in Randlett, Okla., and passed away at her home in Mountain Grove, on Feb. 1, 2021, after illness with pancreatic cancer. She was 84 years and 18 days of age. Barbara married Billy Rolland Bledsoe on Jan. 15, 1955, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Three children were born to this union. There was nothing they wouldn’t do for each other. Barbara met Billy working in her mother’s café as a waitress and cook. She was known for her pancakes that Billy always ordered. Later on in life, she made them for her family. They always knew what was for breakfast. She would make a bunch of little pancakes for all the grandkids when they stayed the night. No one could make pancakes or grilled cheese sandwiches like her. She’d say the secret was extra butter and an extra slice of cheese. Barbara had different jobs to help out including milking cows, Brown Department Store in Oklahoma, Brown Shoe Company in Mountain Grove, Rockbridge Trout Ranch, and Richville store, but her favorite job was being a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and a friend to anyone. She loved having family get-togethers. Barbara had a big heart; always asking if you were hungry, need anything, and if you liked something, she’d say, “do you want it?” Dad would say, “don’t empty the house,” and smile. Barbara was a talented artist in her spare time. She loved to draw and paint, sketch people, paint wildlife on cross saws and wood for some local crafters for extra money. She would sew homemade clothes for all her children and anyone who needed anything mended. She even sewed Barbie doll clothes for her daughter, Debbie. Both her sisters, Elva Lou and Yvetta Jo, had a talent for sewing, decorating and music too. Barbara also had a paper route with her older brother, Gary. She was known for her heavy foot on the pedal, and Gary and Barbara could deliver paper routes in 10 minutes when it took others 30 minutes. Her baby brother, Darryl, would tag along with Barbara. She’d even let him go to the movies when she went on dates with Billy. Sometimes, Billy and Darryl would do things without her, and it didn’t set well with her. She enjoyed being a grandma and spending time with her grandchildren. Debbie was a little nervous when her son, Randy, was learning to drive, but Barbara was always ready as soon as Randy would get off the bus to ride along with him driving and cruising in town, on the main drag and around the square in Mountain Grove. On the weekends, she’d take Randy and Jason, when he stayed, to the skating rink and spoil them. She enjoyed cooking the fish, her sons, Ricky and Terry, caught and brought to her or she caught herself. Wyatt, her great-grandson, always had the biggest fish! She loved the pictures her great-granddaughter, Nebraska, drew and colored with pink and lots of bling. Her grandsons, Bobby and Jason, have a knack for art also. Barbara never said a negative word about anything or anyone. She was grateful for anything anyone would do for her, but she hated to ask for help. “If you don’t mind,” she’d say. “Thank you, thank you,” she’d say to her son-in-law, George. He was her right-hand handyman among others.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents; husband; son-in-law, George Sparks; sister, Yvetta Jo Cox-Trout; and one grandson, Brandon Bledsoe. She is survived by her children, Debbie Sparks, Ricky Bledsoe and Terry Bledsoe, all of Mountain Grove; her grandchildren, Bobby Sparks and Randy Sparks, of Mountain Grove; Jason Bledsoe and his wife, Charity, of Dora; April Bledsoe, of St. Louis; and Drew Bledsoe, of Springfield; her great-grandchildren, Dakota Sparks, Jesse Sparks, Donnie Luck, Hunter Sparks, Wyatt Sparks, Nebraska Sparks, Kaylin Bledsoe, Gage Bledsoe, Brayden Lemons and Lorenzo Hernandez; one sister, Elva Lou Baily; two brothers, Gary Gresham and wife, Betty, of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Darryl Gresham and wife, Glenda, of Coyle, Okla.; one sister-in-law, Nancy Orr and husband, Howard, of Mountain Grove; and a host of family and friends who will miss her greatly. The family would like to extend a special “Thank You” to the Rev. Dwayne Sparks and Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home for making this time a little easier, and to Cox at Home, her nurse, Melina, and aid, Selina, both of which she enjoyed visiting with. Memorial Services were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, in the Craig-Hurtt Chapel with the Rev. Dwayne Sparks officiating. Special songs were “Livin’ On Love,” “That’s The Way Love Goes” and “Will The Circle Be Unbroken.” Arrangements were under the direction of Craig-Hurtt Funeral Home.
