Robert "Barney" Clary

Funeral services for Barney Clary, age 96, of Iola, Texas, will be held 10 A.M., Friday, June 14, 2019 at Cross Baptist Church in Grimes County. Rev. Munroe Rice will officiate the service, and interment will follow in Cross Cemetery. The Clary family will receive friends Thursday, June 13th from 6 P.M. to 8 P.M. at the Madisonville Funeral Home in Madisonville, Texas.

Robert “Barney” Clary was born March 6, 1923 in Iola, Texas to Walter Lee & Mary (Massey) Clary. He served his country in the United States Army Air Corps and retired from Exxon Mobile as a Locomotive Operator.

Barney loved going to auction barns, riding horses, buying and selling cattle and chewing tobacco. He also enjoyed taking care of his grandchildren and the occasional word search puzzle. He loved the land on which he lived and took great joy in caring for it. He had lived in Iola since 1978, coming from Northshore, Texas and was an eighty-three year member of Cross Baptist Church.

Barney passed away surrounded by his family June 10, 2019 at his home in Iola. He was preceded in death by both of his parents; first wife, Lora Mildred Clary; sisters, Daisy, Jackie and Doris and brother, Dalton.

Surviving family members include wife, Zelma Clary of Iola; sons, Walter Clary (Glenda) of Iola, Rick Clary (Sandy) of Waco and Edward Rister (Kara) of The Woodlands; daughter, Kelly Leon (Larry) of Plano; grandchildren, Elizabeth Rister, Hannah Rister, Alex Smith, Kyle Smith, Jonathan Rister, Jason Clary (Amy), Carl Clary (Michelle) and Shelli Sheppard (Troy). Barney is also survived by seven great-grandchildren and three great, great-grandchildren.

Arrangements are under the direction of Madisonville Funeral Home in Madisonville, Texas.