Frances J. Barton, age 81, of Columbus, KS passed away Wednesday Evening, April 16, at 7:26 p.m. at the Freeman West Hospital in Joplin, MO after an illness.

Frances was born June 9, 1926 in Cherokee Co. Kansas the daughter of Chancy and Nina (Zook) Bowlby. She grew up and attended schools in the Columbus area, graduating in 1944.

Frances married Jack O. Barton, on May 10, 1945 in Wichita, KS. He survives of the home.

Additional survivors include one son Jack E. and wife Jan Barton of Columbus, KS and two daughters Deborah and husband Robert Mounts of Tempe, Arizona and Carol and Peter Smith of Memphis, Tennessee. Two brothers Frank Bowlby of Hutchison, KS and Arthur Bowlby of Joplin, MO and a sister Martha Clark of Poplar Bluff, MO and 8 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren.

The family will have an Eastern Star service at 6:30 p.m. Friday at the Simpson Funeral Home in Columbus, with visitation from 6:45 till 8 p.m. Friday. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday April 19, 2008 at the Baxter Springs Cemetery, Baxter Springs, KS with Ministers Alvin and Karen Patterson Officiating. The family asked if any would like to follow them down to the service to meet them at 12:30 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge building at 633 Garfield St. in Columbus, leave to go to the cemetery at 1:15 and follow them to the Cemetery. Memorials have been set up with the Mirza Hospital Dads Pittsburg, KS and may be left or mailed to 323 S. Kansas Ave. Columbus, KS 66725.