Barbara Ann Rousseau

Our beautiful Mom, Barbara Ann Callaway Rousseau, joined her precious Lord on March 13, 2026. She was born at home on August 6, 1936 to JJ (Preacher) and Alyne Callaway. She was the first granddaughter in her family, so her grandparents, Joe and Maggie Callaway, planted a tree in her honor. She later visited the site and saw her beautiful tree fully grown! 

Mom was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. Her Grandma Maggie taught her love of reading and history by telling her and her brother, Don, stories of traveling to Texas in a covered wagon and reading them stories from the Bible. When we were children, Mom continued the tradition of reading Bible stories to us every night. She began everyday with her devotional and Bible study. We grew up attending church with our family, including our Mamaw and Papaw Callaway, then having dinner at their home with our cousins. She was an excellent cook, a skill that she learned from her mother. 

Growing up, she lived in Cleburne until her sophomore year when her Daddy's health required them to move to the Rio Grande Valley, where she attended Edcouch Elsa High School. Mom loved school and was active in basketball, cheerleading, and was a class officer. During her junior year she met Richard Rousseau, who was home on leave from the Air Force. Mom was an A student who achieved the honor of Salutatorian of her class. She graduated in 1954 and received an academic scholarship to Mary Hardin Baylor University. 

On August 13, 1955, she married Richard Rousseau and they moved to South Carolina until he completed his service term. They moved back to Edcouch, Texas where in 1958 Amanda Alyne was born, followed by Richard Kevin in 1961. Work required that they move back to Cleburne where Danna Leann was born in 1966. They lived there until a brief job transfer took them to Cleveland, Tennessee. After a year they returned to Texas where they built a home in Joshua in 1972. They raised us there, and welcomed many grandchildren and great grandchildren who were the lights of their lives! Our home was filled with love and laughter! They enjoyed having a houseful of our friends all the time, and thought of them as their own! We've often heard from our friends of the good memories of feeling so welcomed, and remembering to not shake Richard's hand or pour tea in Barbara's sink! 

Our Mom's smile and dimples would light up any room she entered, especially when she saw children! She was never too busy to play with us or her grandkids. There were many times when she played catch, basketball, or volleyball with us, when she wasn't chauffeuring us to sports, Camp Fire Girls, Boy Scouts, or Girl Scouts. She was our room mom and never missed an event we or the grands had! She often smiled at and played with children she saw anywhere. She was Mawmaw to all!

After we were grown, she worked teaching the 3-year-old class at her cousin, Joyce's daycare. She loved every moment with Memaw Joyce and Memaw Betty at Busy Bee!

Daddy and Mom doted on their grandkids and they were a constant love in their lives. They were married for over 61 years when Daddy passed away on February 22, 2016. She was met in heaven by Daddy, her parents, Preacher and Alyne Callaway, her brothers and their wives, Dan and Pinkie Callaway, Don and Shirley Callaway, her nephew and niece, Chipper and Leta Jo Callaway, and her grandparents and friends.

She is survived by her children: Kent and Mandi Meyer of Cleburne, Kevin and Sandra Rousseau of Aledo, and Danna Murdock of Crowley, along with grandchildren Jared and Rachel Latigo, Tanner and Abby Bucher, Baeli and Josh Brittain, Seth and Anna Murdock, Carmen Rousseau and Devin Barber, and Joe Rousseau. Also, their many beautiful grand and great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends. 

If you were blessed to have known our Mom, then you know she was the sweetest, most loving lady that always had a smile and a hug to give! God blessed our family with her beautiful life, and we are so thankful to have shared it with her!