Margarette Barton

Margarette (Self) Barton, 86, of Norman passed away at her home on March 7, 2018.

She was preceded in death by: her parents, Dorsey and Mattie Self; son Randy Barton; and siblings Mary Lou Frankenburg, Katherine Cummings, Dorsey Self, and Dale Self. She is survived by: brother Gale Self and wife Saundra of Texas; and children Tad Barton, Rick Barton and wife Cheryl, and Mendy Barton Wilson and husband John. In addition to her loving children and brother, Margarette is survived by eight grandkids: Ron Barton, IV; James Barton; Heather Barton; Jarred Fry and wife Heather; Katelynn Blalock and husband Dustin; Miranda Barton; Halee Wilson; and Madison Wilson; and six great-grandkids: Pono Barton; Koen Barton; Kimberly Fry; Beau Fry; Reed Fry; and Harper Blalock.

Margarette was born in Maysville on March 17, 1931 in a farm house on Indian land that was given to her grandmother. She was the oldest of six children and carried the burden of helping to raise them. She said that those years with her siblings were some of the best years of her life. She attended Arnoldview until the eleventh grade, at which time she moved to Purcell and completed her education there, graduating in 1949. They all picked cotton and being raised in the Great Depression was hard on all of them. Margarette kept in contact with her classmates her entire life, and still went to reunions. Margarette lived at the YWCA in Oklahoma City for four years after graduating, and she put herself through Draughons Business College. She made many lifelong friends at the Y.

Margarette married Ronald Barton and then moved with him to Dallas so he could attend Dental School. While in Dallas the couple gave birth to their first son, Tad, and Margarette worked as a secretary for four years. After Dallas they moved to Germany, where they lived for three years and had sons Randy and Ricky. Tragedy struck when Margarette’s brother was killed in Oklahoma City in 1958. The family moved to Lawton in 1961; there she gave birth to her only daughter, Mendy.

After Lawton the family moved to San Francisco, where they lived for two years before moving to Fairfax, Virginia, the place which she often said was her favorite to live. While in Fairfax, Margarette took lessons on making draperies, and continued making them for the rest of her life. In 1968 Margarette moved to Hawaii, where she lived for four years. There she earned her brown belt in Karate, taught painting at the women’s prison in Honolulu, was a Den Mother for Cub Scouts, and took the kids to the beach just about every weekend. In 1972 Margarette and Ronald divorced, and she moved to Norman. She soon got a job at Montgomery Wards and was sent to school to become a manager, a job she performed until the age of 67.

Margarette loved painting, and she could make anything and everything with her sewing machine. She enjoyed making costumes for her grandchildren, and when Cheryl made some aprons for her nieces, they were so cute that Mendy had Margarette make at least 100 of them for her friends’ kids. Margarette’s grandsons Ronnie and Jimmy came to Norman to attend The University of Oklahoma, and Margarette enjoyed thoroughly the four years they were there. The boys’ sister, Heather, came to visit a lot too, to see her Tutu.

In 1998 Rick and Cheryl were married. Cheryl had two children, Jarred and Katelynn, and she adopted Miranda, thus completing their family of five. Margarette would babysit for them every chance she could. In 1999 Mendy gave birth to Halee and Madison in Oklahoma City, and Margarette drove to the City for six years helping John and Mendy. She never missed an opportunity to attend her grandchildren’s events, until she was prevented by her health from going.

Mendy would like to extend a big thank you to Margarette’s cousin, Myra Anderson, for her tireless help and support over the last two years.
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“I’m 56 years old, and I just can’t believe you’re gone. I knew it was coming, but you are never prepared to say goodbye. The death of Randy ended your life too soon.

I miss you so much already Mom, and I just don’t know how I’m going to live my life without you.”

Love, Mendy