Barbara Sheffield

Before illness impaired Barbara Sheffield’s health, she lived a rich and rewarding life beginning with the birth of her son, Bo. Bo remained the light of Barbara’s life until she passed in September 2024.

As a professional hairstylist, Barbara was a highly skilled perfectionist. The same attributes contributed to her success at growing amazing, brightly colored gardens. Barbara also modeled high fashion clothing and favored TV shows about nature and news. Barbara’s intelligence, sense of humor and artistic abilities were appreciated by all who knew her.

Affection for a friend’s Golden Retriever puppy led to Barbara’s becoming a breeder of show Goldens. She took breeding healthy, smart, beautiful, and gentle Goldens so seriously that she studied genetics. However, the inch-thick puppy-rearing manual she sent home with new puppy parents was not without humor. Regarding housebreaking, Barbara reminded parents that their pups were just babies. “Be patient,” she wrote. “You weren’t housebroken overnight!”  Sheffield Goldens’ first dam Phoebe gave birth to Strider, the national and international champion who became Barbara’s beloved stud dog. Strider’s DNA is still performing in show rings across the country.

Barbara was born in Kingsville, graduated from McAllen High School and attended the University of Texas. She is survived by her son, Bo Sheffield (Betty Linn), her sisters Gloria Hill and Patty Duncan and her niece and nephew Tonia Pauline Hill and Jeptha Paul Hill III. She was pre-deceased by Bo’s father Jack Boyd Sheffield and her parents Tony and Helen Badillo. The family would like to thank chosen family, Cory Thompson, for all his work and support caring for Barbara and her beloved Goldens.

A gathering honoring Barbara’s life will be held at a later date.