Edward Emmett "Eddie" Barnard was born on September 12, 1944, in Leedey, Oklahoma, to Ruth Evelyn (Buffaloe) and Earl "Ashley" Barnard. He passed from this life on January 31, 2025 in Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City at the age of 80.

Eddie started school in Liberty Center, Roger Mills County, Oklahoma.  When Ashley's cows contracted brucellosis, he had to sell out. Ashley and Ruth then took their family to California to pick produce. They worked on potato, vegetable, and fruit farms helping with the harvest. Eddie worked alongside the adults, often running the equipment when he was only 12 years old. He went to school in the Porterville, California area during that time. After four years in California, they returned to Leedey, where Eddie graduated from LHS in 1962.

After graduation, Eddie attended SWOSU in Weatherford for a year before returning to Leedey. He married Mary Lou Ferrell on November 4, 1964. Together they brought two daughters into the world, Monica Dawn and Jackie Charlene.

In early adulthood, Eddie was involved in the construction of Foss Dam and other road construction. He then worked for Born Herefords in Follett, Texas, as well as Bob Hatcher Farms, north of Butler, Oklahoma. He later began a hay hauling business, working all over Western Oklahoma. He and his wife, Mary Lou, started with a hay truck and eventually bought a hay monster. He employed his brother, Lyle, and many other high school kids for this work..

He constructed granaries for John D. Foster of Thomas, and worked for Rozel Ranch in Leedey, running their farming and cattle operation. After working for some time with John James in concrete construction, he bought the business from John and established Barnard Concrete Construction in the mid 1980s. He operated the business for more than 40 years. The past 15 years Eddie worked many jobs with Doug Hutton of Elk City.

From a young age, Eddie had a passion for horses and rodeo. His Uncle Troyt (Banks) was his cowboy mentor early on. Eddie broke and trained many colts in his younger years. He briefly tried his hand at bareback riding before giving it up and sticking with team roping. Eddie, Mary Lou, and Lyle traveled many miles to amateur rodeos, where he and Lyle entered the team roping, and Mary Lou ran barrels.  He roped his last steer at the Butler Rodeo just before he turned 79 years old with his oldest granddaughter, Erin.

Over the years, Eddie followed the kids and grandkids to more rodeos than could be counted. If anyone had an itch to have a friendly goat tying match, he was bound to be in the middle of it. Eddie could be found at any activity that his grandkids were involved in from rodeos, to ball games to academic competitions. Between his daughters and grandkids, they had 28 qualifications at a national level from 1982-2022. He would brag about how proud he was of his grandkids to anyone who would listen.

Eddie is preceded in death by his wife of more than 50 years, Mary Lou, and his daughter, Jackie Price. Also his parents, Ashley and Ruth Barnard, and brothers, Lyle Barnard and Daryl Keith Barnard.

Left to carry on his legacy are his daughter, Monica (Mark) Collins and Vic Perrin. Grandchildren - Erin (Ricky) Johnson,  Elli (Ty) Batie,  Baili (Clayton) Nettleship,  Ethan (Katelyn) Price, Ean (Alexandra) Price, Quincy Collins, Tyler, Jake, and Bailey Price. Great Grandchildren - Turner, Timber, and Baby Batie, Slade and Beau Nettleship, Sterling Johnson, Caze Price, and Baby Girl Price. Sisters-in-law Marilyn (Ronny) Moseley and Judy Barnard Adams, as well as a host of friends and family.

Memorial donations may be made to the Jackie Price Memorial Scholarship Foundation
c/o Shaw Funeral Home
PO Box 276
Vici, OK 73859

The Jackie Price Memorial Scholarship Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.