Barbara Earle North

Barbara Earle North, 90, beloved wife of the late Dr. Richard J. North, treasured sister, aunt, great aunt, friend, dedicated teacher, and lover of animals, peacefully passed away in her home on May 18, 2024.

She was born on April 28, 1934, in Port Arthur, Texas, the daughter of Earle and Mayme Moxon. After graduating from Thomas Jefferson High School, where she was pianist for the Melody Maids, she attended the University of Texas at Austin and later graduated from Lamar University in Beaumont.

Teaching was her passion. She spent 26 years of her rewarding career teaching third grade at Van Buren Elementary School in Groves, where she touched the lives of countless students with her knowledge and guidance. Barbara's legacy as an educator and a kind-hearted individual will forever live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her.

She delighted family and friends over nine decades with her warmth, charm, and mischievous sense of humor. She was also known for her boundless generosity. Embracing the festive spirit of Christmas, she went all out with decorations and gave bountiful gifts to her grandnephews, whom she cherished as if they were her own grandchildren. She also enjoyed spending her summers before marriage with her sister, brother-in-law, and nephew at their Adirondack family lake house, and she was always up for fun. She was also extremely generous to animals, as her heart went out to any down-and-out stray, possibly feeding up to half of the neighborhood’s cats and dogs on a regular basis.

She will be dearly missed by her surviving family and friends, including her sister Mary Merrell, nephew Dr. Nathaniel J. Merrell and his wife Dr. Jennifer Merrell, and grandnephews Nathaniel G. Merrell and Andrew J. Merrell. Barbara was preceded in death by her beloved husband Dr. Richard J. North and her dear brother James W. Moxon.

Barbara’s family would like to offer their most sincere and reverent thank you to Tynikqua Gardner for her extreme kindness and for the admirable care she gave Barbara in the final year of her life. Tynikqua was a true angel sent from God who not only managed Barbara’s physical needs but also showed Barbara genuine love and compassion, all of which made it possible for Barbara to remain in her own home until the very end. In addition, we are very grateful to Tynikqua’s friends, Olivia Wallace and Eustacia Wagner, who also helped out as dedicated, delightful, and hardworking caregivers. Chris Miller, Barbara’s devoted and selfless longtime friend and fellow shopper, kept up with Barbara throughout her widowed life, provided her with fun, friendly company, brought her gifts from his unique store, and kept her safe throughout numerous hurricane evacuations, complete with a carful of their combined cats and dogs. Special thanks to Barbara’s friends and neighbors, Patsy Marroquin and her son Eric Marroquin, Jr., who always checked in on Barbara and brought her delicious homemade sweets and cheerful company. With great appreciation, we also thank Ileana and Larry McPhillips for generously welcoming Barbara’s sweet canine companion, Pepe, into their home, giving him the opportunity for a new family with their own two dogs and numerous grandchildren. Barbara was indeed very lucky to have so many people who loved her this much. She will be greatly missed.

 A visitation in memory of Barbara Earle North will take place on May 29, 2024, from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Melancon Levingston Funeral Home in Groves, located at 5601 39th St, Groves, TX 77619. Following the visitation, a funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM in the chapel of the funeral home.  Barbara will be placed next to her husband at Greenlawn Memorial Park in Port Arthur.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to League City Animal Care (a no-kill Texas animal shelter) in honor of Barbara. https://www.leaguecitytx.gov/3913/Donate