Barbara Hitt

Barbara Jean Hazard Hitt was born in Red Oak, Texas on November 25, 1932, and died in Waxahachie on May 19, 2023, at the age of ninety.  She graduated from Red Oak High School in May of 1950, walking the stage as valedictorian in a class of four.  Her life as a musician began in those school days with the piano and steel guitar.  Early in her teens, Barbara spent Saturday nights as a member of the house band at The Sportatorium in Dallas, followed by more than 20 years as the church organist/pianist at First United Methodist Church in Red Oak.

Married on June 13, 1953, Barbara and husband, Jimmy Rex Hitt, spent more than 60 years together before his passing in January 2017.  She is being buried in her wedding dress from that day 70 years ago.

While there were a couple of home addresses outside of Ellis County through the years, they always returned to their Ellis County roots.  They maintained contact with a supportive and active group of friends throughout their lives, meeting monthly to play 42, have dinner, and travel to Alaska, Canada, Branson, and more.  Las Vegas was a much-repeated visit over the years and then replaced with trips to the Louisiana Coast as the years passed.

Barbara began a career with her beloved Mobil Oil in 1966, moving from the steno pool to a meeting planner position over the next 40 years.  She traveled extensively internationally, but particularly loved her work with the Mobil sponsorship of the Van Cliburn piano competition in Fort Worth.  Barbara retired with the merger of Exxon and Mobil.

Throughout her life, Barbara always had a dog or two.  While there were many breeds among those, her most favorite were Pomeranians.  She had tiny ones and big ones, assorted colors, litter mates, and many loud ones for more than 20 years.

Beyond her love of music and her dogs, she was always busy with knitting or a cross stitch project as she watched another Texas Ranger, Dallas Cowboy, or Dallas Mavericks game.  She spent many hours with her crossword puzzles and enjoyed her iPad as her vision declined.  And then there was the nightly ritual with a bowl of ice cream, and it was not a small bowl!

Barbara is preceded in death by her mother and father, Berta Lee and Floyd Hazard, and her husband, Jimmy Rex Hitt.  She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Ralph Hall; son and daughter-in-law, David and Debbie Hitt; grandchildren Ryan Hitt, Alyssa Hitt, Angela Lederman, and Kimberly Alexander; great-grandchildren Judah and Riley Hitt, Hannah and Julia Lederman, Deacon and Mara Alexander.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Ellis County SPCA.