Barbara Southworth

Barbara Marjorie Southworth, age 83 of Killeen, passed from this life Monday, February 19, 2024, surrounded by many of her loved ones. Services will be held Saturday, February 24, 2024, at Harper-Talasek Funeral Home in Killeen, with a visitation starting at 2 pm and funeral to follow at 3 pm.

Barbara was born on December 6, 1940, to James & Antoinette Jarmie in New Haven, CT. She was a dedicated and loving mother and wife, who always had time and compassion for family, her extended family, and our circle of friends and loved ones. Barbara welcomed each of them warmly into the extended family, making them feel at home and loved.

Barbara spent her young years in New Haven, CT, then moved to her home with her five children in Portland, CT and on to Branford, CT. From there, she moved to GA and met her soul mate, Chet Southworth. They then lived in Kansas City, MO and afterwards moved to Killeen, where many of Chet's extended family members live.

Barbara loved to travel and see the world. She and Chet traveled extensively, usually taking cruises as their preferred form of vacations, and traveled around the Caribbean and Europe in recent years. They visited varied destinations that included exotic places that had always been her dream to visit including Easter Island and the ancient ruins in Mexico and Central America; her family’s ancestral home of Naples, Italy, and other world locations including the Mediterranean Coast and Greece.

Barbara was always an avid reader and lover of books, and enjoyed crocheting and crafting. She had a predilection for the unexplained, ancient cultures and the supernatural – even participating in ghost hunting events around the country. Barbara loved cats, and had a wicked sense of humor!

Family and friends will miss her sincere company, advice, friendship, and love.

Barbara is preceded by her parents; first husband and father of the five Kearney children, Richard E. Kearney Sr; brothers, Kenneth Jarmie, and James "Jay" Jarmie; and son, William K. Kearney.

Survivors include her husband, Chester Southworth; sister, Louise Balducci; sons, Richard E. Kearney Jr, Ronald C. Kearney, and John Patrick Kearney; daughters, Barbara Ann Kearney, Cathy (Southworth) Sagal, Cynthia Southworth, Tina Southworth, and Heather (Christopher) Southworth; grandchildren, Ron Kearney’s children:   Phoenix Lombardi and Justin Kearney; Barbara Kearney’s children: Georgia Eastman, Liam Eastman, Brooks Eastman, and Sarah Thompson; Chester Southworth’s children: Adam and Claire; Cathy (Southworth) Sagal’s children: Brighton and Everly; Tina Southworth’s daughter: Penny; and great grandchildren, Michael Thompson (son of Sarah Thompson), Brayden Lombardi (son of Phoenix Lombardi).

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial donation to Shiners Hospitals for Children. Donate here: https://lovetotherescue.org

The family wishes to extend a special thank you to the wonderful, caring, empathetic and dedicated ICU staff at Baylor, Scott & White Hospital headed by Dr. Tom Delmas, with the incredible support of nurses Bernadette, Mary & Susie.