Barbara Day

Barbara Ann Bonn Day June 16, 1936 – December 24, 2024 Barbara was called home to her Lord on Christmas Eve 2024, joining her mother, Getta Mae, and father, Fred Bonn. Barbara was an only child, born in Houston, the family moved to Ozona in West Texas when she was a teenager to help run a family business. She graduated from Ozona High School in 1954, in a class of 12, and was a drum majorette in the band. A flash flood in 1954 ravaged the town, but they remained until she married James Russell Day. Their marriage was brief, and Barbara and their son Rusty, moved back to Houston where she was employed for most of her working life as an executive assistant to the owner of Markel Steel, and she also worked at the Houston Post newspaper. In later years, she married Clyde E Riddle. They moved to Freeport, Texas and then later to Sargent Texas, where she joined the small Methodist church. Her home included a pecan orchard which she tended and harvested annually. After the passing of her mother, she purchased a home next door to her and cared for her father until his passing. Years later she moved to Spring, Texas and joined the John Wesley United Methodist Church. 

She followed her son and daughter-in-law back to the coast after their move to Rockport and continued her service to the Lord at First United Methodist and then the Global United Methodist church. Barbara was a creative and talented artist making elaborate Halloween costumes for then young Rusty and taking formal painting classes. She was awarded several first prize ribbons for her oil and watercolor paintings and one of her murals still exists at her Sargent, Texas church. Barbara continued her artistic pursuit by branching out into porcelain doll building, ending with the fabrication of a series of theme based half sized Santa dolls. Barbara loved flowers and her Rockport home was filled, inside and out, with exotic flowering plants such as a large night-blooming cactus Epiphyllum occipitalis, also known as the Tan Hua flower, as featured in the film Crazy Rich Asians.

 Barbara is survived by her only child, James Russell (Rusty) Day Jr, daughter-in-law, Jennifer R. Day, granddaughter Christina Nicole Day Palmer, son-in-law Tommy Glen Palmer, and great granddaughter Emily Louise Palmer. Barbara was well loved by so many and will be greatly missed. Barbara had a very generous giving spirit and supported her churches. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to First United Methodist Church of Rockport and/or Global United Methodist Church in Rockport or the church of your choice. A celebration of life will be held at Charlie Marshall Funeral Home in Rockport, Texas on January 11, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.