Obituary of Barbara Louise Thorley

Barbara Louise Thorley, 85, passed away on Saturday, May 13, 2023.

Funeral: 1:00 p.m. Saturday, May 20, 2023 at First Protestant Church, 172 W. Coll Street; New Braunfels, Texas, 78130. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park in San Antonio. 

Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 27, 2023 at First Presbyterian Church; 1000 Penn Street; Fort Worth, Texas, 76102.

Memorials: Should friends desire, memorials may be given to Meals on Wheels of Tarrant County or Presbyterian Night Shelter of Fort Worth

Barbara was born on September 17, 1937 in Springfield, Missouri to Maude and Reggie Essary. She moved to Texas as a young adult and started working diligently as a friendly cashier in a local grocery store. As the world progressed and new technology evolved, Barbara’s steady work ethic and knack for learning quickly were duly noted, and she was recruited for employment by NCR Corporation. While there, she rose through the ranks to become an Executive Account Manager, won numerous awards, and served clients all over the country for many years.

Barbara was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. In her retirement, she enjoyed spending time with her family, cooking, entertaining, traveling, shopping, fishing, dancing, renovating home after home, and giving of her time and energy to all kinds of charity work. She was a founding member of an equisite little dance company called “The Hula Honeys” and took great pride in performing for civic programs, retirement homes, community events, and various media outlets across the state. Barbara was a busy lady, strong at heart and will. Ever a fighter, she took hold of faith in Christ Jesus and never lost her sense of humor in life’s journeys. She will be greatly missed.

Barbara is cherished and survived by: husband, Harry Thorley, Jr.; children, Jeff O’Dell and wife, Sheila, and Jennifer O’Dell; step-children, Dianne Lynn Thorley and Darrell Thorley and wife, Lisa; grandchildren; Kevin O’Dell and wife, Rachel, Dana O’Dell and fiancée, Eric Rojas, J. C. O’Dell and wife, Mia, Kacy Maddox Perry and husband, Miles, Colby Maddox and wife, Caroline, Matt Andrews and wife, Kalsie, Garrett Stallings, Shanna Stallings and fiancée, Carrington Power, Paul Diserens, Trevor Redman and Lucas Thorley; brother, Ed Essary and wife, Evelyn; and niece, Linda Asbury; and numerous great-grandchildren and extended family.