Barbara Anne Vandegrift Somers

Barbara Anne Vandegrift Somers, a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend, left this world on April 29, 2025, at the age of 87. Barbara was born on October 8, 1937, in Burr, and lived a spirited life in Iago and Boling, Texas, cherished by family and friends alike.

Raised by her parents, Henry David and Amanda Marie Lane Vandegrift in Boling, she graduated from Boling ISD in 1956. Barbara married James Robert Somers on July 20, 1956, in Iago. He preceded her in death on December 11, 2007. Barbara attended Wharton County Junior College and later, the University of Houston earning her Bachelors’ Degree. She went on to teach in the Needville School District and found her home teaching elementary school in New gulf for Boling ISD for many years. She was an avid reader of old westerns and mysteries. She was also known as a talented artist, working with ceramics, oils, acrylics and watercolors. She always enjoyed visiting with her friends, family and church family. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Elizabeth Ann Somers Richardson and brother, Jim C. Vandegrift.

She is survived by her daughters, Gay Joines and husband, Gary of Iago, and Amanda Somers Hebert and husband, Joshua of Lecompte, LA, son, James Ross Somers and wife, Lesley of Richmond, grandchildren, Marci Lane Macha and husband, Allen, David Lee Joines and partner Holly Fogleman, Mary Jo Richardson Huerta and husband, Smiley, Keith Richardson, Jack Walter Richardson, Gemma Rose Hebert and Kellan Mark Hebert, and great grandchildren, Abbi Lynn, Graci Lane, Joseph, Meredith and Drake, and many friends.

Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at Wharton Funeral Home. Funeral Services will follow at 11 a.m. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Delores Hill, Jean and DeVoy Shaw, Mary and Bobby Sterry the Boling High School class of 1956 and members of the College Heights Baptist Church

Condolences may be left at whartonfuneralhome.com. Funeral services are under the arrangement of Wharton Funeral Home.