Barbara Jo Cody was born in Amarillo, Texas on August 4, 1950. She was the second oldest child of Peggy and Roy Chaney and grew up with her five siblings in the now-abandoned town of Pantex. She graduated from Panhandle High School and began working at Pioneer Natural Gas shortly after high school. In 1969, Barbara was swept off her feet by a gentleman from California, with a Texas soul. In 1970, she and Larry Cody said, “I do” in a small ceremony at Second Baptist Church in Amarillo. The couple would eventually move to Lubbock, Texas in 1976, with Barbara pregnant with an absolute force of nature who would later go on to pen exceptional obituaries. For 53 years, the only thing that would keep Larry and Barbara apart would be the occasional overnight sales trip for him or the weekend casino trip to the nearest Reservation for her. Fortunately, Larry’s trips were profitable enough to overcome the loss of Barbara’s excursions and upon her retirement from Atmos Energy in 2013, Barbara and Larry enjoyed several vacations, including cruises to Alaska and Mexico and a bucket list, Hawaiian getaway. Among all her travel destinations, no place put a smile on Barbara’s face quite like the humid heat of South Louisiana. It was there she would hug the life out of, read to, cook for, laugh hysterically with, and constantly dote over her two granddaughters, Cecilia and Audrey.
Barbara was quick on the draw with the most recent dance pictures of her grandkids and bombarded her Zeta Epsilon Masters sorority sisters with updates on their numerous accomplishments.
She loved listening to Elvis and Patsy Cline. She watched the original Footloose 39 times and tried to learn how to play the piano at the age of 65. Larry’s hearing issues never came in more handy than when Barbara was abusing the ivory keys.
Barbara was a quietly confident Christian who knew the words to just about every song in the hymnal.
She’s watching over her husband Larry, her granddaughters, her daughter-in-law Jill, her son, Scott, her four sisters, Deborah Potts, Claudia Miller, Vicki Chaney, and Marilyn Franklin, and her brother, Larry Chaney.
She is missed by everyone who knew her.
All are welcome to a light-hearted memorial service that will celebrate her spirit, mourn her absence, and remember her laughter, Tuesday, May 30th, 2023, 2:00 pm, at Lake Ridge Chapel in Lubbock, Texas. Please visit this page for a service broadcasting schedule, floral purchasing, and an area to share stories of Mrs. Cody with her family.
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