Michael Judson ‘Mike’ Barmore
Michael Judson “ Mike” Barmore, 74, joined his Lord on November 2, 2024.
Born in Dubach, on May 11, 1950, Mike grew up as a mischievous country boy in Dubach, Unionville, and Ruston. He learned piano from Grandmama Crawford; always sought refuge in the arms of his other grandmother, Mammie Fannie, after misbehaving; got knocked off by low tree limbs while riding Kokomo, an especially mean family Shetland pony; collected fresh eggs daily; and fed newborn calves using a baby bottle, all while growing up under his mother’s watchful eyes.
Back in those days, school bus drivers in Lincoln Parish owned their own buses, and Mike loved making his dad’s bus lurch forward by pushing the starter button on the floorboard.
After graduating from Dubach High School, Mike received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education from Louisiana Tech. He later returned to Louisiana Tech for his master’s degree in education. He went on to have 33-year career teaching fifth graders at Hico Elementary School.
A favorite annual activity involved his students making soap using the recipe and methods of American pioneers. He loved teaching and he loved his students. After retiring as a teacher, Mike was elected as a member of the Lincoln Parish School Board for three terms. He was the Board’s voice for teachers and students.
Mike became a talented cook and baker. Holidays found Mike wearing an apron daily as he prepared cornbread dressing, hot water cornbread, purple hull peas, candied yams with marshmallows, and baked turkeys. He was pleased when other family members began frying turkeys for Thanksgiving and Christmas feasts! Each year, the family chose from five deliciously different homemade pies, some with meringue, some with whipped cream toppings, and all with different crusts.
Mike could never strictly follow a recipe – he always added ingredients or tweaked the flavorings. The results were devoured! He also somehow found time to grow flowers and vegetables, harkening back to childhood days of picking purple hull peas, squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, and other veggies grown in the big family garden.
With his family, Mike attended New Prospect Baptist Church in Unionville, First Baptist Church in Dubach, and Temple Baptist Church in Ruston.
He parlayed his cooking skills into joining the Kitchen Crew at Temple Baptist Church, where he helped prepare weekly and special event meals for members and their visiting families. At Temple Baptist, he also served as deacon and in other leadership roles and reveled in serving as a Sunday morning greeter at the sanctuary door.
Mike was the family caregiver, a somewhat rare trait for a man. As his mother’s health declined, he and his sister shared those caregiving responsibilities.
Later, he provided daily care for his Aunt Ruby. Mike had a servant, loving heart, a selfless life attitude, and a kind and gentle spirit, always finding a way to help others while serving and loving God, his family, and his friends.
He positively impacted the lives of so many people, including nearly a thousand fifth graders and many more parents. He often played piano for services at New Prospect Baptist Church, First Baptist Church in Dubach (where he also played the organ), and Mineral Springs Baptist Church.
A celebration of Mike’s life will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at Temple Baptist Church, led by Dr. Reggie Bridges, Rev. Terry Ganey, and Rev. Barry Joyner. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. in the sanctuary. With the help of his sister, Glynda, Mike planned his memorial service, selecting the preachers and picking Margie Hearn and Lane Brown to play the piano for the songs Mike selected.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, S.J. and Melba Crawford Barmore, and his brother Donald “Donnie” Wayne Barmore. He is survived by his sister Glynda Barmore Hicks and her husband, Maury Hicks, and many, many cousins in north Louisiana. Mike’s family thanks cousins Pam and Jerry Owens for their selfless help in caring for him.
Mike’s ashes will be interred near the graves of his family at Colvin Memorial Cemetery later.
Honorary pallbearers are Stanley Crawford, Jerry Owen, Robert Mitcham, Charlie Alexander, Don Hogan, Graham Morris, Cecil Barham, and Glenda Robbins.
Memorials in Mike’s name can be made to Temple Baptist Church, 1515 S. Service Rd. W., Ruston, LA 71270, Rolling Hills Ministries Disaster Relief Fund, 3487 Hwy. 33, Ruston, LA 71270, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be extended to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes. com.
