Barbara Ann Hendricks

Barbara Ann Hendricks died at the Veraden Senior Living center (Edmond, Oklahoma) on October 22, 2022. She was 85.

Barbara was born in Forgan, Oklahoma, on March 31, 1937, to her much beloved parents, Virgil and Mable Adams. Barbara grew up cleaning produce, stocking shelves, and otherwise helping out in the family business, Adams’ Grocery. As an only child, she spent much of her free time at play with cousins and many Forgan children who would go on to be a life-long friends.

In 1955, she married Everett Clapp. The couple spent a year studying at Oklahoma Panhandle A&M College (now Oklahoma Panhandle State University, Goodwell), then returned to farm with Everett’s parents near Forgan. Everett relished life and indulged in practical jokes, which Barbara celebrated. Besides farming and ranching, Everett and Barbara raised three children, cultivated a host of friendships, were active in the United Methodist Church of Forgan, and served on the Forgan school board. Everett died in 1982.

In 1987, after working as a teacher’s aide at Forgan school and shortly for an optometrist in Liberal, Kansas, Barbara remarried to Herbert Hendricks and moved to Herb’s home in Beaver, Oklahoma. With the gentle and famously genial Herb, Barbara enjoyed an enlarged family and travel to spots as distant as Alaska. The couple delighted in tending together to their spacious yard and visiting their children and grandchildren, scattered out in Oklahoma, Texas, Illinois, and California. Herbert passed away in 2006.

Throughout her life, Barbara was a gifted pianist. She played regularly at Forgan’s United Methodist Church and Beaver’s United Methodist Church, then, in her later years, at the Veraden Senior Living center. For many years, a plaque hung in her home and at the Veraden. It read: “Music is a gift from the Lord . . . ‘singing with thankfulness in your heart’ (Colossians 3:16).” She was also known for her gardening, sharp dressing, meticulous and decorous housekeeping, and crafting beautiful ceramic figurines. She loved card games, raucous laughter, dogs, and good cooking. Above all, she prized family and adored each of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren for their individual gifts and uniquenesses.

She leaves 6 children: Ron (Sharon) Hendricks, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Janis (Calvin) Moreland, of Granbury, Texas; Joyce (Donald) Keel, of Edmond, Oklahoma; Rodney (Sandy) Clapp, of Wheaton, Illinois; Kerry (Donnita) Clapp of Edmond, Oklahoma; and Kimberly (Ernie) Martinez, of Yucca Valley, California. There are as well 11 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. The grandchildren include Guy (Lauren) Hendricks, Heather (Tracy) McLain, Jeremy (Diane) Moreland, Chris (Dawn) Moreland, Don (Jill) Keel, Jaci (Mat) Hoffman, Adam (Kenna) Clapp, Abby (Tanner) Horn, Jesselyn Clapp, Drew (Katie) Martinez, and Dylan Martinez.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers that donations be made in Barbara’s honor the Forgan United Methodist Church or the Forgan Cemetery.