Bernice Barnard

On the morning of April 24th, the Lord leaned down and lifted Bernice Joy Tuck Barnard. He dried her tears, restored her body and mind and carried her to her heavenly home.

Born August 26, 1933 in St. Peterburg, Florida, Bernice was the third child of William Bryant Tuck and Margaret Stafford Harner. Raised in Philadelphia during the Great Depression, Bernice learned the values of responsibility, thrift, hard work and family. With her mother working to support the family, Bernice helped to care for the household and looked after her younger sister Nancy. Active in sports and girl scouts, Bernice's dream was to become a nurse. After graduating from Overbrook High School, Bernice volunteered at the Navy Mother's Club in Philadelphia, where she and her girlfriends would dance with the sailors. It was there that she met her best friend, husband and soul mate, Garland Ray Barnard. After completing his Navy service they married in 1954 and moved to Austin to start a new life together.

Bernice worked as a bookkeeper to support Garland as he worked to obtain his Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Sometimes embarrassed that she did not earn a higher education degree, Bernice was an avid reader. As a result, she could discuss almost any subject. Bernice loved her life as a wife and mother, running the household and raising her family. Her family was always first, and she was the kind of mother who volunteered at school, baked cupcakes for school parties, and drove her children to afterschool activities. Bernice cheered her children's accomplishments and tenderly kissed away the hurts. Bernice even found time to volunteer in numerous activities, including the Seton Hospital Auxiliary, and learned to paint and make crafts.

Bernice and Garland were partners in every sense of the word, and walked side by side for 41 years until Garland's death in 1995. Together they celebrated life's joys and supported each other through life's challenges. They were proud of the adults their children became and dearly loved their grandchildren.In heaven, she joyfully reunited with Garland, her mother and father, and her brothers Bryant Russell Tuck and Carl Mellis Tuck, and other family and friends.

Left to cherish her memory are her sister Nancy Carol Tuck, her daughter Brenda Joy Barnard (David Weiss), her son Gary Ray Barnard (Lydia Hardwick Barnard), grandsons Eastman Ray Barnard and Matthew Barton Weiss, granddaughter Sarah Weiss Barr(Adam Barr), numerous nieces/nephews and friends.

The family wishes to thank Bernice's care givers for their compassion, friendship, and service, especially Barbara Harris with Nurses Unlimited. There have been so many doctors, nurses and care givers that touched Bernice's life, including Hospice Austin, on her journey. The family wishes to thank all of them.

A private memorial service will be held on Friday, May 3, 2013.
In lieu of flowers, please help a neighbor in need, volunteer or contribute to a charity of your choice. Bernice's favorite charity was Salvation Army.