Nan Barnes

OKLAHOMA CITY - On April 22, 2022, Nan Barnes passed away at age 81 in Oklahoma City.

She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and sister.

Nan was born Nan Louise Flippen on December 17, 1940, in El Reno, Oklahoma, to parents Ryman and Martha Flippen. Known as a talented pianist and organist, Nan graduated from El Reno High School in 1958. She then continued her studies at Oklahoma State University where she was a proud member of the Chi Omega sorority.

After her sophomore year of college, Nan married her childhood sweetheart, Bill Barnes. The former head cheerleader and star quarterback of El Reno High had a storybook romance and a loving marriage that lasted over sixty years. Nan was a wonderful mother and focused on raising their two children, Brian and Julie, and running the household while Bill established successful commodities brokerage and feed lot businesses. She enjoyed travelling, especially to Palm Springs, Scottsdale and Puerto Vallarta, which influenced the design and decor of the dream home she and Bill built in Oak Tree in 1980. The friends she made were her friends for life. People were drawn to her because, while she was beautiful, elegant, and sophisticated, she was also genuine and gracious. Her hobbies included growing beautiful plants and flowers, fishing on their ranch east of Guthrie, watching Sooners sports, playing cards, cooking, and entertaining her friends. She religiously read the newspaper and was an impressive source of information on a wide-range of topics. Her greatest joys were watching her children and grandchildren grow into successful, caring adults, and spending time with her great-grandchildren.

Nan was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her sister and brother-in-law Martha Jo and Duane Roady. She is survived by her husband, Bill Barnes; son Brian Barnes and his wife Kim; daughter Julie Free and her husband Phil; grandchildren Brittany Decker and her husband Jay, Mackenzie Barnes and her fiancé Chris Wesley, Blake Barnes and his wife Christyn, Peyton Vann, Riley Vann, Maggie Rigler and her husband Parker, Casey Free and Cade Free; great-grandchildren Ava and Addison Decker; sister Julia Hart and her husband Joel; and brother Ryman Flippen.

A memorial service celebrating her life will be held for family and friends on April 28, 2022, at 11:00 AM at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper Funeral Home 6600 Broadway Extension, Oklahoma City, OK 73116.