Barbara Lara

November 3, 1947 to Mr. and Mrs. C.C. Casstevens. She graduated from Monterey High School in 1966, Lubbock Christian College in 1968, and Abilene Christian University in 1970.

She married Joe M. Lara in 1970, the same year she began teaching school. She spent 35 years as

an educator, teaching elementary at Roosevelt, Hardwick, Jackson, and Parsons, as well as spending time teaching in Dallas and South Carolina. Her calling in life was teaching 1st graders how to read and she earned the Teacher of the Year distinction twice in her career.

She loved spending time with her family, especially her granddaughters and her dachshunds.

Barbara is survived by her two daughters, Jessica Lara of Lubbock and Emilie Griffith and her husband Jeremy, of Ralls; two granddaughters, Morgan Sue Griffith and BreAllyn Gail Griffith of Ralls; her sister, Jane Tredway and her husband Larry of Lubbock; her nieces Leslie Hurst and her husband Lyndal of Huntington, Texas and Nancy McClung and her husband Andy of San Antonio, Texas; her grandnieces Taylor Norris and her husband Tyler of Lubbock, Payton Hurst of Dallas; her grandnephews Jacob and Mason Walters, of San Antonio; as well as numerous friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Joe, her father Clinton Casstevens, her mother Loretta Sue Casstevens, and her granddaughter Reese Lara Griffith.

Services will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, January 5, at South Plains Church of Christ.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be sent to Dusty Puddles Dachshund Rescue at 2503 County Road 7820, Lubbock, TX 79423, or Make-A-Wish North Texas.

Online condolences may be offered at www.resthavenfuneralhome.com.