Heather Barbee

Heather Dee'Anne Abke Barbee, age 26, of Wharton and formerly of Rosenberg, passed away Thursday, Dec. 6, 2007 in a Houston hospital following an extended and courageous battle with cancer.

Mrs. Barbee was born on Oct. 30, 1981 in Brenham, the daughter of Rev. Harvey D. Abke and Sue Lynn Gerzik Abke. She was a 2000 graduate of B.F. Terry High School in Rosenberg and attended Wharton County Junior College while serving at the First Baptist Church of Boling, as the youth director and later worked for South Texas Medical Clinic as a data entry clerk until she became ill. She was married to Keith B. Barbee on Sept. 22, 2001 in Rosenberg. Mrs. Barbee was a member of First United Methodist Church in Wharton. A few of her favorite activities included; watching her sons play soccer and baseball, attending day care activities, participating in the Relay for Life program, and helping out at the Methodist Church with Vacation Bible School and LOGOS. Mrs. Barbee was a very compassionate person who touched many people in a special way. She was a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and friend who will be greatly missed.

Visitation was held on Monday Dec. 10, 2007 at Wharton Funeral Home. Funeral services were held at 11a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2007 at First United Methodist Church of Wharton with the reverends Paul Quiggins, Harold Sellers, and Dennis Keen officiating. Interment followed in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery in Wharton.

Survivors include her husband, Keith, and sons, Ashton and Ian Barbee, all of Wharton; parents, Harvey and Sue Abke of Rosenberg; grandparents, Harvey and Margaret Williams of Caldwell; brother, Justin Abke and his wife Brandy and daughter Amy Lynn of Katy; in laws, Milton, Gloria, David, Kathylee and Sheena Barbee, all of Wharton.

She was preceded in death by grandparents, Earl and Irene Abke, as well as Joe L. Gerzik.

Pallbearers are Ryan Cooper, Dusty Dunn, Jaime Ovalle, Ryan Keen, Christopher Keen and Brandon Daricek.

Honorary pallbearers are her two sons, Ashton and Ian Barbee, and all of her aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

If desiring, memorials may be made to an Educational Fund for Ashton and Ian Barbee, c/o Capital One Bank, 323 East Boling Highway, Wharton, TX 77488.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home.