Barbara “Bartee” Lee Woodruff, 78, died peacefully on-November 4, 2021, with her family by her side in Norman, Okla.Barbara was born November 27, 1942, in Oakland, Calif. to Stanley and Opal Bartee.
She graduated from Vanoss High School, received her BA at Southeastern State University, and obtained her Master of Education at Central State University. Barbara was a founder of the Ardmore Higher Education Center, started an oil & gas secretarial business, advocated for Woodruff abused children as a Social Worker, and for the past twenty years was the Executive Director of The Margueritte B. Piers Living Free Sanctuary for Animals and Nature Conservancy.
Barbara married the love of her life, Howard, in 1972, and was married for forty-nine years. She saw beauty in broken things, and was always quick to help people in need, family and strangers. One of the proudest and most difficult moments in her life was working as a Red Cross volunteer helping families after the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing. She loved horses, working in her flower gardens, decorating, vacationing on Balboa Island, painting, writing stories, and spending time with her kids, grandchildren, and greatgrandchildren. Barbara was a proud member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, and a member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Ardmore, Okla.
She is preceded in death by her parents Stanley Bartee and Opal Chilcoat Haskins; and her brother Tommy Haskins.
Barbara is survived by her husband, Howard Woodruff; sister, Pat Bartee/McKay; daughter, Hollie Kee; son and daughter-in-law Jim and JoBeth Kee-Rees; grandchildren and spouses, Janeen and Sam Jones, Jeffrey Archer and Margaret McKinney, Christian and Laura Archer, Kate, Carson, Sophia and Luke; greatgrandchildren, Cole, Miles, Parker and Mia.
Visitation was held Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at the Watts Funeral Home in Madill, Okla. from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Funeral service was 2:00 p.m. on November 9, 2021 at the Watts Memorial Chapel in Madill, Okla. Rev. Michael P. Stephenson, Jeffery Archer and Jim Kee-Rees officiated the service. Music was arranged by Jeff Wood.
Interment wasat the Rollins Cemetery in Madill, Okla. Services were under the direction of Watts Funeral Home in Madill, Okla. Condolences may be sent to wattsfuneralhome.com. Casket Bearers were Jeffery Archer, Christian Archer,
Casket Bearers were Jeffery Archer, Christian Archer, Samuel Jones, Luke Kee-Rees, Carson Halley and Greg Fullingim.
Honorary Bearers were Royce Bartee and James Chambers.