Barbara P. Osada

Barbara Parrott Osada of Flint, TX passed away on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at the age of 90, accomplishing her work on earth as a good and faithful servant of the Lord. Barbara exuded warmth and kindness to all those who knew her and offered constant praise and thanksgiving to her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. As the family’s most veteran prayer warrior, Barbara regularly received prayer requests from family and friends alike, due to her “direct line to God.” No matter what circumstances she found herself in, Barbara demonstrated contentment and peace in the knowledge that she was loved by her Father in heaven. Barbara was born in Memphis, TN on October 20, 1933, as the only child to Horace Lemuel and Elsie Huddleston Parrott. In her childhood, she spent her days roller skating down the sidewalk, drinking bottles of Coca Cola at her dad’s used car dealership, and hanging out with her family’s dogs. She graduated from Central High School in Memphis in 1951 and went on to attend Baylor University in Waco, TX. Barbara liked to joke that her father sent her to a large, faraway Baptist university to meet a good Baptist man, but she almost immediately fell in love with a soon-to-be Methodist preacher. Barbara met the love of her life, Don Osada, soon after enrolling at Baylor, and the two were married on June 14, 1953. Once they were married, Barbara switched directions to pursue what she called her “P.h.T.” degree – “putting husband through” – by working various jobs to earn a family income while Don completed his time at Baylor. After Don graduated from Baylor, he attended Brite Divinity School and went on to become an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church. Around this same time, Barbara and Don welcomed their first daughter, and Barbara began her primary vocation as a mother and pastor’s wife. Over the next 45 years, Barbara joined Don in ministry at churches of the United Methodist Church’s Central Texas Conference including Abbott, Temple, Milford, Valley Mills, Waco, Dublin, Breckenridge, Corsicana, and Fort Worth. Although she held administrative positions at employers in many of those locations, she considered her calling to be first and foremost serving her churches and family with the love of Christ. She showed love, comfort, and hospitality to the congregations and communities in each town and made many lifelong friendships along the way. In 1995, she and Don moved to Flint, TX and joined Marvin Methodist Church. She was a bright and stable presence in the church congregation for many years, including as a loyal member of the Pairs and Parents Sunday School Class. Beyond her involvement with the church, much of her retirement was spent showcasing her love for her family by attending her grandsons’ sporting events, musical performances, marching band shows, and other activities. Barbara considered her life’s theme to be “all I have needed, Thy hand hath provided” from the classic hymn “Great is Thy Faithfulness,” and she regularly shared her gratefulness for the life that she was blessed to live. This life-theme fueled her ability to find joy in countless simple things: a good book, Coca Cola, the color orange, Rolos, Elvis Presley music, sunsets, Butterfinger Blizzards, and love stories with a happy ending, to name a few. And she loved spending time with her family and friends, whether that be over a game of Mahjong, watching a Hallmark movie, or baking her famous M&M cookies together. But all of the love and joy that radiated from within her came from her confidence in Jesus Christ and her aim to live a life bringing Him the glory. Barbara deeply loved her family and led them to pursue lives honoring the Lord. She is survived by her daughter, Cindy Kelly, of Flint; and daughter, Susan Jones, and her husband, Eddie, of Richardson, TX. She also leaves behind four grandsons and their wives, who lovingly knew her as Maw Maw: Grant and Kelli Jones, Bryan and Lindsay Kelly, Clark and Amy Jones, and Kevin and Alex Kelly; as well as six great-grandchildren: Reese Jones, Ian and Owen Kelly, and Wendell, Howie, and Phoebe Jones. Barbara is preceded in death by her husband of 69 years, parents, son-in-law, Tom Kelly, and loving aunt and uncle, Hazel and Sam Drosihn. A celebration of Barbara’s life is scheduled for Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. in the chapel of Marvin Methodist Church (300 W Erwin Street, Tyler, TX 75702) with Rev. Gerry Giles officiating. Prior to the chapel service, a graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. at Tyler Memorial Park Cemetery (12053 State Hwy 64, Tyler, TX 75704) for any wishing to attend. In addition, a public visitation will be available on Friday, May 3, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home (7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler, TX 75703). In lieu of flowers, if desired, memorials may be made to the Eternal Flame Fund at Marvin Methodist Church, 300 W. Erwin St., Tyler, TX 75702 (www.marvin.church).

Barbara P. Osada

October 20, 1933 - April 28, 2024