Barbara Palestine Horn of Gillespie, died on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at Gillespie Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, one day shy of her 94th birthday.
Burial of cremains and a private celebration of life will be held at a later date at Stone Hill Cemetery in Salem, MO. Kravanya Funeral Home in Gillespie is in charge of the arrangements.
Mrs. Horn was born on May 18, 1932, in Eddy County, NM, to Elbert Boyd Hughes and Winnie Mae (Floyd Huffman) Hughes. She married George H. Horn, the love of her life (since the age of 15), on Feb. 10, 1950, in Lovington, NM.
She made a profession of faith and was baptized alongside her husband, George. Together, they faithfully served at Trinity Baptist Church in Gillespie and First Baptist Church of Litchfield, until health prevented them from continuing to do so.
Mrs. Horn’s career was spent in college administration and academics, retiring from Blackburn College in Carlinville. She was known for being a strong advocate for students, always willing to listen, especially when students were homesick and needed someone to talk to.
She loved flea markets and garage sales, which contributed to her extensive knowledge and collection of depression glass.
Mrs. Horn is survived by her daughter Janet (Jim) Hughes of Kimberling City, MO; son, Boyd Horn of Gillespie; daughter-in-law, Patricia Horn of Madison, AL; grandchildren, Jennifer Hughes-Tate of Ozark, MO; Jannece (Danny) (Hughes) Sutterfield of Ozark, MO; Kristopher Horn of Clearwater, FL; and Thomas Michael Horn and David Patrick Horn, both of Madison, AL; great-grandchildren, Jessica (Gus) Hamp of Ozark, MO; Abbegayle Sutterfield of Charleston, SC; and Daniel Sutterfield III of Fort Wayne, IN; great-great-grandchildren, Savohna Hamp, Madie Hamp, Noah Hamp and Isaiah Hamp, all of Ozark, MO; and August Hamp of Miramar, CA.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, George H. Horn; son, George Michael Horn; her parents; stepbrother, Joe Huffman; stepsister, Rose Katherine Whygles; beloved dogs, Leo and Geo; and many aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and cousins.
Memorials may be made to the donor’s charity of choice.
Condolences may be left at www.kravanyafuneral.com.
