Florence Louise Fowler Barclay, of Nederland, died Sunday, May 22, 2016, surrounded by the loving arms of her family. Louise was born shortly after the end of World War I, on March 20, 1919, to George and Octavia Fowler in Galveston. Soon afterward, the family moved to Call, Texas. Throughout her life, Louise often referred to her hometown with a twinkle in her eye saying, “I guess they can call me a Call Girl!” That twinkle of humor and mischief was often present and was one of her defining characteristics.

While a student at Kirbyville High School, Louise served as a cheerleader until she met and married James Harold Barclay in 1935. The couple soon had to weather a tragedy with the loss of their first son, Edwin, at birth. The doctor told Louise she would never have another child. Never one to do exactly as she was told, Louise quickly followed this pronouncement by having twelve more children. Stubbornness also was a defining characteristic of Louise.

Louise raised her twelve children and many grandchildren. After her youngest children entered school, she started working at Humpty Dumpty Daycare in Nederland. Her love of children, especially babies, was legendary. In fact, she was named Nederland’s Mother of the Year in 2013 in recognition of this love.

When her husband, Harold, became ill, she left work to nurse him for many years until his death in 1988. When her sister, Pat, had cancer, Louise’s amazing capacity for love was again demonstrated when she took Pat in and nursed her until her death in 1996. Love was definitely a defining characteristic of Louise.

Louise suffered many other losses through the years, from a house fire in 1976 to the loss of her sons, Ron (1984), Steve (2012), Charles (2013), her niece Patsy (2012) whom she treated as a daughter, and great-granddaughter Kayla in (2008).

Louise was known as Grandma to everybody. She adopted friends of her children and grandchildren. In the end, she was more apt to answer to Grandma than any other name. As difficult as it was to watch, the family did enjoy some of her imaginative stories near the end. She lost her battle at age 97.

Louise is survived by her children, Byron, Lynda (Gene), Sandra (Jesse), Mary, Rick (Beth), Kathy (Tommy), Charlotte (Tim), Mike (Kay), and Jerry (Patti); twenty-three grandchildren; forty-five great-grandchildren; and twenty-one great-great-grandchildren.

A gathering of “Grandma” Florence Louise Barclay’s family and friends will be from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Thursday, May 26, 2016, at Broussard’s, 505 North 12th Street, Nederland. Her funeral service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, May 27, 2016, at Broussard’s, with interment to follow at Oak Bluff Memorial Park, Port Neches.

Grandma’s twinkling, stubborn, and loving spirit will be missed by all.