Bobbie Leah Barber

Bobbie Leah (Gourd) Barber passed away Friday, May 14th, 2021 in Tulsa, OK, at 90 years of age. She was born October 23rd, 1930 in Moody, OK, the daughter of Eli and Lizana (Wofford) R.Gourd. She grew up with five brothers and two sisters: Gail Bird, Jack Bird, Betty Freeman, Vera Freeman, George Gourd, Thomas Gourd, and Eli Gourd Jr. She graduated from Central High School in Tulsa, OK, and then earned her nursing degree from St. John’s Hospital. Bobbie married Orville Lee Barber on October 22nd, 1951, in Sapulpa, OK. In Tulsa, they raised three children together: William Dale, Dayna and Janna. Bobbie was a compassionate nurse for many years and a loving caregiver to the family elders. She was involved in the Tulsa Cherokee Community Organization, the Chilocco Alumni Association, and was a member of DD Etchieson United Methodist Church in Tahlequah, where she sang with the Cherokee Language Choir. She was the proud matriarch of the Gourd family and kept her grandchildren educated to the Cherokee language and way of life.

Bobbie was preceded in death by her grandparents, William and Mollie R.Gourd and Louanna Beamer; her parents, Eli and Lizana (Wofford) R.Gourd; her husband Orville Lee Barber; two infant daughters; her son William Dale Barber; her brothers, Gail Bird, Jack Bird, and Thomas Gourd; her sisters-in-law, Delma and Betty Bird.

She leaves behind her daughters, Dayna Rayburn and Janna Gourd; her daughter-in-law, Jackie Barber; her son-in-law, Mike Rayburn; her sisters, Betty and husband John Freeman, Vera and husband Pat Freeman Sr.;her brothers, George and wife Barbara Gourd and Eli and wife Joanna Gourd Jr; her sister-in-law, Sue Gourd. She lives on in her grandchildren, Bryan Barber, Brittany and husband William Griffith, Kimberly and husband Dustin Dickman, Greg and wife Robin Wilder, Alyssa Rayburn, Joey Rayburn, Brandon Gourd, Ethan Gourd, Alex Gourd, Cassie Gourd, and Anna Gourd; her great grandchildren Bryanna and husband Josh Allen, Sheyenne Dickman, Savannah Dickman, Hunter and wife Chokoda Gougler, Montana and husband William Griffith Jr., Kylie and husband Clint Davidson, Eli Wilder, Wyatt Wilder, Piper Wilder, and Jackson Wilder; her great great grandchildren, Caiden Allen, Penelope Allen, Sage Gougler, Bryson Gougler, Mason Gougler, Kambryn Griffith, Franklin Griffith, Kaislee Griffith, and Easton Davidson, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

Funeral services for Bobbie Leah (Gourd) Barber will be held on Friday, May 21st, 2021 at 2:00 PM at Reed-Culver Funeral Home with Reverend Pat Freeman Sr. officiating. Pallbearers are Mike Rayburn, Pat Freeman Jr., Eric freeman, Kyle Gibson, Dustin Dickman, and Josh Allen. Honorary pallbearers include Marc Long, Steve Bird, Clayton Riddell, Brandon Gourd, Ethan Gourd, Phillip Bread and Eddie Morrison. Her family will receive guests on Thursday, May 20th, 2021 beginning at 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Reed-Culver Chapel. She will be laid to rest next to her husband at Gourd Cemetery in Moody, OK. Online condolences for her family may be left at www.reedculver.com.