Barbara Sue Spacek

BARBARA SUE COLE SPACEK was born February 1, 1943, in New Gulf, Wharton County, Texas, to Jack Bernard Cole and Vivian Ruth Jackson Cole. Because she made her arrival on her Grandmother Jackson’s birthday, she was given the honor of choosing her name. Barbara moved to Bellville in 1955, when she was in the eighth grade. At the age of twelve, her first job was at the Alamo Threatre in Bellville.  She sold popcorn after school and on weekends.  Barbara worked at Schroeder’s Malt & Burger, which is now The Hill.  Her employment continued at Gross Studio, where she worked and paid for her senior pictures.  Barbara knew she could not afford college, so she took typing, bookkeeping, shorthand and other business courses at Bellville High School.  After high school in 1960, she started her working career of more than twenty-seven years with Austin County, Texas. On October 23, 1965, she married the love of her life, Joe L. Spacek, who was employed as a Deputy Tax Assessor Collector, in the Courthouse. Barbara and Joe were blessed with a son, James Gregory Spacek, two years later, that brought much pride and joy to them.  They build their home and moved to the country.  Where they raised cattle, had a bountiful garden, and participated and supported all their son’s activities, while both were working long hours at work.  Barbara worked as a Secretary in the offices of the County Attorney, was Deputy County Treasure, Assistant Auditor and Austin County Sheriff’s Department. In October, 1971, she attended A&M Law Enforcement Academy, and became the first lady to become a certified deputy sheriff, for Austin County, Texas.  Later, Barbara attended Gus George Law Enforcement Academy, and acquired a certified jailer’s license.  Barbara also went to Blinn College and Houston Community College, nights and weekends, took the test, and received a real estate licenses. Life was shattered for this family in September, 1990, when Joe received a diagnosis of terminal pancreatic cancer. Because of treatment and being otherwise healthy, he was able to survive two years. The next year her son married Kimberly Ann Naskrent, in 1993. Two years later unto their union was born a daughter, Amanda Lauren.  The five and one-half years later, a son, Hunter Joseph, was born and named for his grandfather.  Barbara felt especially blessed to have her grandchildren living so close.  Each day after school, she would pick them up, have a delicious snack, play and do homework with them.  She lived to attend each of their activities, and take them anywhere they wanted to go, or do whatever they decided to do that day.  There was nothing she would not do for them.  They were the light of her life, pride and joy, she loved them so much. Barbara retired from Austin County in 1997. Because of her love of children, she did substitute teaching for the entire year.  The next year, she was asked to come to work full time in the Special Ed Department and worked for Bellville Independent School District for twelve and one-half years, working at all schools in various positions until her retirement.  Then, Barbara worked part-time in the insurance business and did a lot of volunteer work for numerous organizations. In November, 2015, she became a funeral assistant for Donna Schmidt Fricke and became part of the Schmidt Funeral Home Family, even though she only worked part-time; she visited every week because they all became family to her. Barbara had a love for people, and desire to help others, on May 5, 2016, she returned to work at the Austin County Courthouse as a part-time receptionist, and continued to work at Schmidt Funeral Home. Barbara lived a life of great faith and love. Her faith in God and the Catholic Church strengthen her.  She was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Bellville, the Council of Catholic Women, enjoyed working at the annual bazaar and youth ministry.  For many years she registered all of the Children for Vacation Bible School.  She loved music of all kinds and loved to dance. One of her favorite sayings was “you have to choose to be happy,” and she did this by living her life as a dance.  Enjoying life to its fullest with a heart full of happiness and good cheer, she would find joy in life, and believed that good things would always happen, then set out to find them.  Barbara was a very determined, hard working and self-sufficient person. She faced many challenges in her life, and suffered a lot of physical pain with degenerative arthritis, and other health issues, but her spirit was always alive and well.  Barbara never met a stranger; she made you feel like she had known you all your life. She loved people, and loved to talk and meet new friends, and once you met her, she was someone you would never forget.  Barbara loved teasing and being teased by others.  With her fiery, spunky and outgoing personality, she could change a boring meeting into a party.  Her feisty spirit and compassionate heart will be missed by everyone who knew her. Barbara always stood her ground, and was never afraid to tell you just what she thought. She was a loyal friend and her list of friends is endless.  She truly loved and cared deeply for each of them.  She could always be counted on in a time of need.  She referred to her friends as blessings in her life, and what memories she gave them.  Barbara will truly be missed.  She touched the lives of many and her love will live in the hearts of those blessed enough to have and been loved by her. The delicious food that she prepared will long be remembered by all her friends and family. Cooking was one of her special talents; she shared her food and baked goods with everyone.  Her door was always open and she gave so much more than she ever took. Barbara loved experiencing the wonders and beauty of nature. She spent many hours outdoors; and enjoying all of God’s beauty, and often would spend endless hours planting and caring for her flowers and garden.  She was told by friends that it was not normal for a person to spend eight hours a day working outside in the hot sun.  She was very proud of the fact she mowed and cared for her beautiful yard, and had a bountiful garden. Barbara had a passion for cattle, and found great pleasure in tending and caring for them. Each one has a name, they are her pets, and they eat out of her hand.  She enjoyed horses and trail rides in her younger years. Barbara is survived by her son, James Gregory Spacek and his wife, Kimberly, of Bellville; her precious, light of her life, grandchildren: Amanda Lauren Spacek of Bellville and Hunter Joseph Spacek of Bellville; NEPHEW: Frank Spacek, Jr. of Fort Worth. Also, her very close friends, whom she also loves as her family, Emily and Sam Pfeffer and Jackie and Mike Stewart, all of Bellville; her special cousins, Carol and Bruce Earnest of Fort Worth; Dr. Stan and Ruth Jackson of Pyualop, Washington; and a host of relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joe L. Spacek, her parents and grandparents.