Modelle B Barton

Modelle Barton, 94, of Rochester, Texas passed away at her home Saturday morning, October 13, 2012.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, October 15, 2012 at the First Baptist Church in Rochester. Visitation is planned for Monday morning, at the church, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Rochester Cemetery under the direction of Smith Family Funeral Homes.

Modelle Manley was born July 1, 1918 to Malcolm and Della (Arnold) Manley in Blum, TX. As a young girl the family moved to Rochester where Modelle lived the rest of her life.

Modelle graduated from Rochester High school in 1935 where she participated in basketball, baseball and volleyball.

She married W.L. "Knott" Ballard on August 1, 1935. They established their home east of Rochester where they raised cattle, cotton and maze.

On July 23, 1948 the Lord blessed her with her only child George Willis Ballard. He was the light of her life. After a lengthy battle with Hodgkins disease, George died on October 7, 1965 at the age of 17. In 1978, her husband Knott was killed in a tragic accident during a parade in Rochester.


In 1980 Modelle married T.W. Barton. He preceded her in death March, 2011. She welcomed his family into her own and loved her role as a Grandmother and Great-Grandmother.

Modelle loved to cook and was famous for many signature dishes, most notably her chocolate chip pecan pie. Many a pie has suspiciously "disappeared" from the dessert table at family gatherings.

Her love of cooking lead to a new venture in writing. She along with Jane Short and Marguerite Gauntt published "Cooking in Rochester for 75 Years" which was followed by two historical books. "Where the Rails were Laid" and" A Century in the Rochester Area" which show cased her love of Rochester and the families who call this area home.

Her close friend Marguerite said, "Modelle believed that if you lived in a community you worked for that community." Modelle exemplified this by her involvement with the Rochester schools, the First Baptist Church as a VBS and Sunday school teacher and the Rochester Roping Club. She also served as an officer in the Woman's Literary Club, participated in WMU as well as being in charge of the Rochester Cemetery. Her love of Rochester's rich history inspired her involvement in the Rochester museums and historical society.

To honor the men and women of Haskell county who served our country, Modelle motivated
the community to pull together to create a Veterans Memorial Monument. Her close friend Jane Short said," Modelle was an inspiration to me and I have never known a more civic minded person than her." This statement was further echoed recently when Modelle along with Jane and Marguerite were commissioned as a Yellow Rose of Texas by Governor Rick Perry for their dedication to community and state.

Despite many trials and personal tragedies, Modelle always chose to have a positive outlook on life. She instilled her love and promise of eternity with family and friends through prayer and by the life she lived. This quote was found written in her Bible.
"A heart of gratitude will change your attitude."

She is survived by her sister Lois Hilburn of San Antonio, Texas; three sisters-in-laws, Jerry Pike Manley, Madill, Oklahoma, Janice Manley and Oleta Manley both of Ardmore Oklahoma, Ten nieces and nephews; 23 great nieces and nephews and 11 great-great nieces and nephews whom she loved very much.

Modelle was preceded in death by her husband Knott and her beloved son George; her parents Malcolm and Della, her brothers Francis, Charles, Dick and Bobby, sister Marie and sister in law Carol Manley and nephew Mike Ellyson. She leaves us with heavy, sad hearts but she would want everyone to remember God's promise that we will one day be reunited with her and our Heavenly Father.