Paul Peyton Barbee

February 22, 1926 - March 21, 2017

Paul Peyton Barbee, Sr., 91, passed away on Tuesday, March 21, 2017. Services are Saturday, March 25, 2017 at the Mt. Tabor Church of Christ, 8432 Highway 75 North, Madisonville, TX. Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. with services beginning at 2:00 p.m., burial will follow in the Mt. Tabor Cemetery. Brother Lanier Stevens of the Midway Church of Christ will officiate. Paul was born on February 11, 1926 in Houston, TX to Andrew Jackson Barbee, Sr. and Dolly Lucille Hambrick. He graduated from Jeff Davis High School and served on the USS Steelhead submarine during World War II whose primary job was rescuing downed pilots off the coast of Japan. After discharge from the Navy, he met and married his beloved wife, Geri, and the adventures began. Paul attended Sam Houston State University (Huntsville), Allen Military Academy (Bryan) and Texas A&M University (College Station). He played football for Sam and football and basketball for AMA earning him the name of “Hot Shot” for his half-court baskets. He chartered and was past-President of the Submarine Veterans of World War II Sea Turtle Chapter in Corpus Christi and was a very active member; he was a 32 degree Mason, and remained active in many other organizations throughout his illustrious life. Paul spent many years in the insurance industry founding Modern Investors Life in Oklahoma City and expanded to Houston, but his greatest love became the oil and gas industry where he founded Barbee & Company. His life was an exciting ride and he “did it his way” as in his favorite song by Frank Sinatra. Paul was a man full of love for the Lord, family, and friends. He was a member of Weber Road Church of Christ since 1972. He was a loving husband, loved his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandsons he had yet to meet. He treasured the times he spent with each of them and at the end of each visit or telephone call, he left them with words of wisdom, encouragement, and love. He was the eternal optimist and motivator in all of their lives and considered his family the greatest achievement of his life. Paul was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Geraldine “Geri” Geneva Holcomb Barbee, son, Paul Peyton Barbee, Jr., and great-daughter, Ashlynn Mahalia Walker. He is survived by his children Rebecca “Beckye” Barbee (Madisonville), Randall “Randy” Barbee (Corpus Christi), Jonathan Peyton Barbee (Houston), Sharylee Barbee (Corpus Christi), Barbara “Barbie” Nixon and husband, Til (Normangee), Melissa Walker and husband, Tim, (Bowie), Paula Jeffrey and husband, David (Madisonville), Cassidy Barbee and Charlie (Port Aransas), Geraldine “Gera” Geneva Barbee and Phillip Hotzen (Flynn), JInnie Rebekah Pratt (Houston), Zachary Paul McLane (Madisonville), Ezekiel Cuevas (Mississippi), Zaine Cuevas (Madisonville), Trent, Mackenzie and Landyn Walker (Bowie), Trinity, Ricardo “Tres” and Paul Sosa, Kaylee, Lindsey, and Clark, and his 5th generation grandsons, Elijah Cuevas and Phillip Hotzen, III. Pallbearers will be: Zachary McLane Jonathan Barbee Jay Murray Ricky Mosley Richard Walters Jeff Broll