Sandra Lee Tolliver Barnes
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September 7, 1947 - July 16, 2015
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Sandra Lee Tolliver Barnes, 67, of Bentonville, Arkansas, passed away
Thursday July 16th, 2015 at the Circle of Life Hospice Legacy Village in
Bentonville Arkansas. She passed due to complications from pneumonia and
longtime heart problems.
She was born in Sacramento, CA to Chester Jim Tolliver and Mary Dell
McBee Tolliver.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her oldest son Donald Jim Barnes in
2008 and her youngest brother Timothy Bill Tolliver in 2007.
Sandra is survived by her husband of 51 years, Stephen Dale Barnes, of
Bentonville and their remaining three sons; David Barnes and Stephen Lee
Barnes, both of Bentonville, Sean Barnes and partner Tom Phillips of
Lowell, AR, two brothers Jamie Tolliver and wife Wanda of Hollister, MO.,
Chris Tolliver and partner Eric Attwell of Hollister, MO., one sister, Belinda
Matthews of Republic, MO., one grandson Donald Drew Barnes and wife
Annette and a great grandson, Braden Don Alexander Barnes.
Sandy brought humor and joy to those around her. Our mother didn’t know
a stranger and she loved sharing stories and laughter with others. Sandy grew
up in Hollister, MO where her childhood included driving cars and drag
racing, driving boats and water skiing (even though she never learned to
swim) and playing pranks on her friends and family. She learned to drive in
an old army jeep and by the age of ten she was driving her Aunt from
Hollister to Springfield to shop on the square.
As a teenager she met and fell in love with Steven Dale Barnes, a young man
who had moved to the area to attend school. They married on June 13th,
1964 and remained together to her final days. In the early years of their
marriage, even with a budding family of her own, she babysat in the home
and worked off and on with Walmart, building lifelong friendships with
parents of the children she spent the day loving and mothering as if they
were her own. Sandy assisted in setting up Walmart store number 1 and
enjoyed her work and the friends she made. In 1989 she retired from the
workforce, leaving behind friends and co-workers who had shared her
storytelling humor, smile, and great down home cooking! As her boys were
repeatedly told; “Dont touch that food! It’s for work!”
Sandy then focused her attention to Steve and the boys and making a
wonderful home for them. Her home was often filled with family and
friends for the holidays or just over for a game of cards or pool. Over the
years her young loving spirit and motherly personality led to many of her
boys friends calling her Mom.
Her love of cars and boating was passed onto her boys. Many years were
shared canoeing and fishing and, seriously, she could cook the best fish and
hushpuppies in the area and we dare anyone to say it wasn’t so! As for the
canoeing, well, there has always been some question to the facts of the tale
of how Steve tipped the canoe, dumping her in less than a foot of water or
whether it was viscous rapids rushing over her head. The truth will never be
known.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00pm, Tuesday July 21, 2015 at
Circle of Life in Bentonville, AR. with Reverend Jo Jones officiating.
Following the service there will be a celebration of life.
Memorials may be made in honor of Sandra Barnes to Circle of Life Legacy
Village 1201 NE Legacy Parkway, Bentonville, AR 72712
CONDOLENCES
Our most sincere sympathy to a beautiful family who will miss their loving
mother, wife, sister and grandmother.
Danny and Jo Jones
My heart goes out to everyone for the loss of Sandy. It looks like she lived a
great life full of love from friends and family. I love you guys! You're always
in my thoughts and prayers. Her memory will live on! Dani Brewster
Copyright 2015 Stockdale-Moody Funeral Services, 2898 West Walnut, Rogers, Arkansas 72756 479-631-1353
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