Tina Kay Barnes was born on September 12 ^th , 1962 in Naples, Italy and passed away surrounded by her family on Thursday, November 30, 2017, at home in Weatherford, Oklahoma, at the age of 55 years, 2 months, and 18 days.

She spent some years at an air force base in Germany. Being in a military family, they traveled frequently till they settled in Altus, Oklahoma when she was in third grade. Tina was very involved in cheerleading from elementary school till even after college, coaching a Pom Pom squad in her first years of being a teacher. She was also involved in gymnastics in high school as well as FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes). Tina was very involved with her youth group at First Baptist Church of Altus. It was at Falls Creek in 1978 that Tina came to know Christ. She went on to graduate from Altus High School in 1980. She then went to Western Oklahoma State College (WOSC) in Altus, Oklahoma for two years, graduating with an associate's degree. Next, she went to Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, Oklahoma where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1987 with B.S. degree in Special Education and Physical education. Tina started dating Robert while attending WOSC having met previously during high school. Tina and Robert were married on November 10, 1984 at the First Baptist Church in Altus, Oklahoma. She went on to teach special education at Wichita Falls, Texas for one year. In 1988, she then came back to Oklahoma to teach special education at Weatherford Middle School. Next she joined Foss Lake Adventure Program, an alternative school for adjudicated youths, at its start up. She taught all subjects there for eleven years. Tina then taught at Geary Public Schools for four years. Lastly, she came to teach special education at East Elementary School in Weatherford, Oklahoma where she eventually retired in 2015 due to health reasons. Tina proceeded to start a prayer ministry group called the Encouragers at Pine Acres Church. She mentored a young woman at the church. She started her own women's bible study. She also tutored elementary students at Postitive Pathways at the Federated Church for as long as her health allowed. She was always taking pictures and spreading her joy to others through her beautiful smile.

Tina has had many battles with cancer, surgeries, and various treatments off and on for the past 19 years. However, you wouldn't have known any different because of her upbeat, positive attitude. Her zeal for life was evident in her job, as a special education teacher, her line dancing classes and kick boxing classes that she taught at SWOSU, and her many relationships with friends and family. Tina could have been out running errands and given a person the most beautiful smile or words of encouragement and that person would have been changed. Those who are closest to her say that she continued to be upbeat and positive even at her sickest, cheering others up. Tina has allowed God to shine through her. Her happy, positive attitude and trust in God through all the pain and chemo planted seeds of faith in others' hearts.

Tina is survived by her father, John Thornton and wife, Dee of Milton, Florida; her husband of 33 years, Robert Barnes of their home in Weatherford, Oklahoma; one daughter, Julie Harms and husband, Corey of Corn, Oklahoma; granddaughter, Abigail Harms; one son, Rusty Barnes and wife, Hillary of Weatherford, Oklahoma; two brothers, Johnny Thornton and Kathy Gerhart of Altus, Oklahoma and Michael Thornton and wife, Tammy of Lawton, Oklahoma; and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her mother, Mary Bulriss and her sister, Brenda.