Florida Barnes

Florida Marye Barnes went to be with the Lord on Febuary 27, 2016 at the age of 94. A long time resident of Bandera, she was born in Eagle Pass to Florida Ranney and Henry P. Barnes on March 20, 1921. As a young girl, her family moved to Laredo where she spent her formative years and graduating from Laredo High School.\r\n\r\nShe moved to San Antonio in 1963 and quickly proved herself to be a true asset to John Catto, Jr. and Alfred Negley to handle the bookkeeping for local family interests. The relationship flourished and, in 1965, Negley purchased two film carriers that served theaters from Dallas to the Rio Grande Valley. This company eventually became Texas Tex-Pack Express, Inc., at which Florida would eventually serve as its President and General Manager. Coming from a small border town with no college degree, she managed to succeed in a man's world at a time when that was not easy. Florida was largely credited with helping Tex-Pack enjoy enormous growth and expansion before it was sold. She often said her experience at Tex-Pack was one of her most notable accomplishments.\r\n\r\nFlorida thoroughly enjoyed learning and helping others. At the time of her death, she was serving on the Board of Directors at the Arthur Nagel Community Clinic and spent several years as a volunteer for the Frontier Times Museum. She was also involved with the San Antonio Area Foundation.\r\n\r\nFlorida is preceded in death by her parents, her brother Harold Barnes and her sister Alice Joyce "Babs" George.\r\n\r\nShe is survived by her three nieces, Kathleen Knecht, Marye Fazekas and Carol Beatty and nephew, Henry Barnes, great-nieces Shawn and Julie Fazekas, great-nephews Austin Fazekas, Carson Beatty and Luke Beatty. \r\n\r\nFuneral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 5 at St. Christopher's Episcopal Church in Bandera. The Rev. Allan Conkling, Jr. will officiate. \r\n\r\nThe family wishes to extend our sincere thanks to the kind caregivers at United Angels for their assistance with Florida's care in her final weeks.\r\n\r\n\r\n