Lena Faye Reid Keck Barnett

LENA FAYE REID KECK BARNETT Lena Keck Barnett, passed away peacefully on the morning of January 5th, 2017, in Cortez, Colorado. Lena was born on June 29th, 1928 in Bonita, Texas to William D. Reid and Mealy Melvina Hollars. She was quite a beautiful child and young lady and lived up to the meaning of her birthplace Bonita (beautiful). She was the 5th of six children, (3 boys and 3 girls: Doyle, Helen, Mac, Wanda, Lena and Tom). She spent her early years working on the farm and attending school in Bonita. She graduated from Nocona High School in 11 years. As a young woman, Lena started working in banking in Nocona, Texas. She met Donnie Earl Keck from Nocona, Texas and they were married in 1946. To this marriage three children were born: Rickey Don Keck in 1947, William Randall Keck in 1948 and Joe Michael Keck in 1950. Lena always wanted to have a daughter also, but settled to help raise and mentor numerous young women in her extended family and community. The family settled in the Cortez area in 1957 after several years of working in the oil industry around the western US. Don and Lena and boys fell in love with the beauty and people of Southwestern Colorado. Lena continued her career in the banking industry working for Citizens State Bank, First National Bank and Mesa Verde Savings and Loan. She managed raising three boys while maintaining a full time job. She loved sports and participated in softball, bowling, fishing, horse racing, and, as we affectionately teased her over the years, she was the alligator wrestling champion of Bonita, Texas. She loved spending time in the mountains during the summer with one of her favorite places being Transfer Park and Jackson Lake. She spent many years with Don training quarter horses and thoroughbred race horses, and raced initially on the Colorado State Fair Circuit and then at Santa Fe Downs and Turf Paradise. She could outwork any two men, any day. She never met a person with whom she didn't try to build a friendship. No person was a stranger to Mom. She was a legendary cook and her biscuits and rolls brought children from throughout the neighborhood to the Keck House for food and fun. Her rolls won a blue ribbon at the Pinto Bean Harvest Festival in the late 1980's. Her Tony Llama Mama breakfasts were also, legendary. Lena was a member of the Church of Christ in Nocona and Cortez and developed many good friendships through the Church. Lena married Wade Barnett in 1998 in Nocona, Texas. She spent two wonderful years with Wade until he passed unexpectedly in November of 2000. Lena met Jiggs Wade, one of the nicest men, in 2001 and they became very good friends until his passing in 2003. In 2004, at age 76, Lena decided to buy some calves and get in the cow business. Her 3 acre pasture was perfect for fattening some calves. She spent her later life on her 3 acre place on the edge of Nocona. Lena is survived by her three sons, Rick (Cathy), Randy, and Joe (Susan), six grandchildren (Jed, Kale, Kelsey, Tammy, Derrick, Lindsay) and seven great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, brothers and sisters, and husbands Don Keck and Wade Barnett. A memorial service is planned for this Spring. Donations can be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Colorado, 455 Sherman St. Suite 500, Denver, CO 80203.