Ruth Elva Matheny Barrett passed from this life on January 26, 2023. She was 97. Ruth was born on July 13, 1925 in Abernathy, Texas. At 18 months old she moved to Pampa, Texas with her parents, Claude Clarence Matheny and Martha Malissia Beauchamp Matheny. She graduated from Pampa High School in 1944. She married her high school sweetheart Floyd Lee Barrett on April 2, 1946 after he returned from service in the Navy during World War II. She was a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Pampa, TX and Calvary Baptist Church in Las Cruces, NM.
Ruth attended Frank Phillips College in Borger, Texas and went on to earn a Bachelor and Masters in Education from West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas. She taught art and math at Robert E. Lee and Pampa Middle School for 26 years.
Ruth was preceded in death by her grandparents Wilhemina Eva Glen Beauchamp (Jack), and step grandfather Scott Rheudasil who called her Sugie; parents Claude and Martha Matheny, sisters Ramona Louise Matheny Gruben (Henry, deceased) and Lynn Claudette Matheny Holder (Bob, deceased) and a nephew Karl Taylor Gruben. Her beloved husband Floyd Lee Barrett passed away November 24th 2012 a year after they moved to Las Cruces, New Mexico from Pampa, Texas to be close to family. They were married for 66 years.
Ruth is survived by 2 daughters: Martha Barrett Wildman (Tom) and Margaret Barrett Wildman (Charles, deceased.). She had 6 grandchildren: Thomas Wildman IV (Raquel, deceased) (Amy), Kimberlee Henry (Richard), Malissia Aranda (Jacob), Christopher Joseph Wildman (Nancy), Teresa Sletten (Eric) and Michael Barrett Wildman (Christina). She had 9 great-grandchildren: Joseph Sanchez, Christina Urda (Andrew), Tomas Wildman, Evan Wildman, Ethan Henry, Sophia Wildman, Hannah Aranda, Tyler Wildman, and Jessica Sletten. She had 2 great-great-grandchildren: Ruth and Stephen Urda. She is also survived by one sister-in-law Dorothy Barrett (Raymond, deceased) and many nieces and nephews.
Graveside service will be at Hillcrest Memorial Cemetery at 9:30 on April 1st with Pastor Wilson of Calvary Baptist Church officiating. Cremation was done by La Paz Funeral Home. The family is grateful to the staff of Mountain View Hospital and Mesilla Valley Hospice staff who where kind, generous, and so thoughtful in her care. The family requests no flowers. Donations may please be made to Mesilla Valley Hospice for their kind and gentle service to Ruth.
