Mary Margaret "Peggy" Barnes

Mary Margaret "Peggy" Barnes

Mary Margaret "Peggy" Barnes, a beloved educator, devoted wife and mother, proud Nana, and lifelong Texas Longhorns fan, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at the age of 76. Born on July 6, 1950, Peggy lived a life defined by passion, purpose, and an unwavering commitment to the people and community she loved.

Peggy graduated from Bellaire High School in Houston in 1968 where she was a Bellaire Belle. She went on to earn her Bachelor's Degree from the University of Texas in 1972 and later completed her Master's Degree from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1985.

After graduating from UT, Peggy moved to Fort Worth to begin her career in education. During those early years, she played competitive fastpitch softball as a catcher, forming friendships that lasted a lifetime. It was also during this time that she met the best friend she would ever have-and the love of her life-Ronnie Barnes. They married on December 22, 1974 and soon settled in Burleson, Texas, where they built a wonderful life together.

Peggy was an active member of the Ladies Golf Association at Walnut Creek Country Club and won the women's club championship in both 1978 and 1979. After her first win, friends joked that she had an unfair "two‑against‑one" advantage, as she was expecting her first child, John, at the time. Three years later, she and Ronnie welcomed their daughter, Jennifer.

As a mother, Peggy poured her heart into her children's lives. She coached their sports teams-from Little Dribblers to fastpitch softball-and when she wasn't coaching, she was cheering loudly from the stands. On a couple of occasions, she may have "cheered" so loudly that she was asked to finish watching from the parking lot.

Peggy dedicated thirty‑seven years to shaping young minds and strengthening her community through her work in Fort Worth ISD, Castleberry ISD, and Burleson ISD, where she served for twenty‑nine years. Her roles included teacher and coach at Burleson High School, assistant principal at Hughes Middle School, principal at Crossroads High School, and ultimately Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources for Burleson ISD. She was honored as Burleson ISD Teacher of the Year in 1984 and was awarded Administrator of the Year by the Association of Texas Professional Educators in 2005. Peggy once said, "An educator's passion is fueled by knowing that there are opportunities to make a difference in the lives of the students. The satisfaction is finding out that you did." Her warmth, patience, and steadfast dedication left an enduring mark on countless students, families, and colleagues.

In 2004, Peggy received the Burleson Chamber of Commerce Athena Award. While deeply honored by the recognition, she took even greater pride in the collective accomplishments of the Athena Society of Burleson, where award recipients worked together to uplift and empower their community.

Peggy retired from Burleson ISD in June 2011. Retirement brought new adventures-golf trips with dear friends in Palm Springs, fishing in Alaska, and a memorable 23‑day journey through Yellowstone, Coeur d'Alene, Mount Rushmore, and the Northwest Angle Fishing Resort. These travels were filled with laughter, friendship, and the joy of experiencing life with Ronnie by her side.

Of all her roles, Peggy cherished being "Nana" most. She adored her grandchildren and was immensely proud of them.

Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, Voyd and Vashti Kuntz, and her sister, Kathy Helwick.

She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Ronnie Barnes; her children and their families: John Barnes and his children Taryn, Teagan, and Bowen of Keller, TX;

Jennifer Sando and her husband, Laith, and their children Brock, Luke, and Cade of Burleson, TX.

Peggy will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Her legacy of love, kindness, leadership, and service will continue to inspire generations of students, educators, friends, and family whose lives were touched by her remarkable spirit.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11:00am on Monday, September 14th at Pathway Church, 325 NW Renfro St., Burleson, TX 76028, followed by a reception. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Burleson Opportunity Fund in Peggy's memory. Donations may be made online at Donate - Burleson Opportunity Fund or by mail to P.O. Box 3097, Burleson, TX 76097.