Barbara Caldwell

Barbara L. Murray Caldwell met Jesus face to face on November 25, 2025, at the age of 82. She is now rejoicing with Him and reunited with her husband Johnny, sons John and Chris, great-granddaughter Oaklyn and other loved ones in Heaven. Barbara was born on February 2, 1943, the youngest of four children to Oral A. Murray and Lillie Marsh Murray in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Her siblings, Orvel, Jean, and Earl were 12, 10, and 7 when she was born, so needless to say she was spoiled by all three of them.

Barbara grew up south of Stillwater attending Ripley School from first thru 7th grade with the exception of one semester at Perkins School. The summer before 8th grade she moved with her parents into Stillwater where she attended Stillwater Schools graduating in 1961. Barbara loved playing basketball and played at Ripley. When she moved to Stillwater, they did not have girls’ basketball in the school, so she played on a city league team called the " Pink Kittens". Barbara had her first job at the age of 13 at City Drug. Then went to work at Tiger Drug where she continued to work all thru high school and also worked at the OSU Student Union serving banquets. She met Johnny the love of her life when she was 15, and they were married June 23, 1961, three weeks after her graduation from high school when she was 18, and he was 20. They made their first home in Stillwater. After their marriage Barbara worked at Bette's Flower Basket. Eighteen months after their marriage, Johnny and Barbara started their family. Jeanne, John III, Chris, and Dianna were all born within five years. Barbara loved being a mom and enjoyed helping with home room parties, cub scouts, girl scouts, and attending every sporting event and program the kids were a part of. She always felt fortunate to be a stay at home mom until Dianna started to school, but even after going to work, she never missed a game, class party, play, or program. In 1968 Johnny's job took them to Altus, Oklahoma, for 2 years, then Lawrence Kansas for 5 years with them moving back to Oklahoma and to Ponca City in 1974. Barbara worked at McDonalds, Cheyenne Club Cafeteria, Graves Drug, and Elks Lodge dining room. In 1985 she went to work at Pioneer Vo Tech which later became Pioneer Technology Center retiring in 2008 after 23 years of service. Barb loved her many years at PTC. Barb served as Vice President and President of the PTC Employees Association. She is a member of the State and Kay County Retired Educators, where she served as president, a member of the Stillwater Pioneers Alumni Association and a member of the Alliance Health Ponca City Senior Circle Program. She was also a volunteer at Alliance Health. She is a long time member of St. Luke's Church of the Nazarene and the PALS Sunday School class and served as the Women's Ministry Leader. She also helped with funeral dinners at the church. She always looked forward to Wednesday Ladies' Lunch each week with all of her wonderful church ladies, which she was the leader of. Barb loved life and lived it to the fullest. She is so proud of her kids and kids in law, loving each of them as her own. Her pride and joy is her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She dearly loved her role as Nana to all of them. She loved God and knowing she will see Johnny, John, Chris, Oaklyn, and her mother and dad again! 

She loved flowers, warm weather, hot air balloons, wind chimes, her Church family, family get-togethers, lunch with friends, and country and gospel music especially the Statler Brothers quartet, the Jason Lovin band, and Jimmy Fortune who she had the privilege of meeting in person at the Poncan Theater and him signing his CD which has her favorite song "I believe" which she wanted played at her funeral! She was preceded in death by her husband Johnny Jr., sons John III and Chris, great-granddaughter Oaklyn, her parents, Oral and Lillie Murray, her parents in law, John Sr. and Arelena Caldwell, her brothers Orvel Murray and Earl Murray. 

She is survived by her children, Jeanne and Neil Gory and Dianna and Travis Jones, both of Ponca City. Special daughter in law Michelle and Steve Kuchera of Marland and Christi Caldwell of Ponca City. Her grandchildren, Matthew Caldwell, Andrew Caldwell, Kayla Ewing, Kelsey & Zach Kolber, Stephen & Amy Gory, Blake Gory, Michael Caldwell, Courtney and Tanner Getman, Ali Caldwell, Dodger Jones and Morgan Richardson, Brooklyn Jones Farias and Octavio Farias. Step grandchildren, Jordon & Teri Jones, Diane & Bill Weber, Amanda & Stephen Muniz and Christopher and Alexis Plew. Great-grandchildren, Jocelynn Caldwell, Kory, Riplee and Millie Ewing, Micah Caldwell, Briar Getman, McKenna Gory, Atlas Kolber, Sofia Farias, Adrian & Ruby Farias, Maisie Jones, Preston, Tegan, Tatum, and Talynn Jones. Chandler, Ragen, Jackson & Layla Weber, Lucas and Levi Plew. Her Sister Jean Croy, of Overland Park Kansas and many nieces, nephews and friends.