John Talmage Barbee passed away September 7, 2020, in Tyler. Mr. Barbee was born January 12, 1949, in Center, TX, to the late Archie Barbee and Faye Deason Barbee.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Thursday, September 10, 2020, at Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Center. Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, September 11, 2020, at Watson & Sons Chapel with Larry Lampley officiating. Interment will follow at Short Cemetery in Shelby County.

John was always a family man. He quit school at age 16 to go pipeline to help take care of his brothers and sisters. In 1970, he married Gloria Watson and had a family of his own. He had a cousin, Weldon Boles, ask if he wanted to drive a truck for him and that started what became a 40 year career in the propane business. Later on, when the company sold, he went to work for Smith Energy as a dispatcher in the oilfield industry, where he worked until his accident in March 2020.

You could always count on John for a quick comeback, a corny joke, produce out of his garden, some sage advice, a smile, or a handshake. He never met a stranger and could start a conversation with anyone.

Most of all, he loved his grandkids, where he got them 4 wheelers when they were little, taught them to shoot when they got older, made sure they had a car when they got old enough to drive, and provided a way for whatever kind of education they wanted.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Gloria Barbee; son, Rocky Fountain; daughter, Holli Barbee; grandkids, Kelsey Haffelder and husband Tyler, Tory Davis, and Colton Davis and fiancé Carissa Tyler; and one precious great grandson, Bryson Lee Haffelder, that he called "Little John"; sisters, Barbara McDonald, JoAnn Rushing and husband Bill, Ronda Holloway and husband Robert, Vicky Snider, and Carolyn Harkness and husband Ricky; brothers, Denel Ray Barbee and wife Rosa, Donald Barbee and wife Julie, and Ricky Barbee; and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends who will all miss him greatly.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Archie and Faye Barbee; sisters, Beverly Walker and Linda Cougler; brothers, William Marshall Barbee, Bobby Barbee, and Archie T "Bo" Barbee Jr.; also, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Carrol and Elaine Watson.

Pallbearers will be Billy Bob McAdams, Wayne Harkness, Josh McAdams, Bubba Peavy, David Griffin, and Jimmy Wood.

Honorary pallbearers will be Weldon Boles, Smokey Smith, Bob Tennant, Larry Watson, Carlton Watson, and James Fountain.