Mona Giles

Mona Louise Barney Giles, 95, went to be with the Lord on April 27, 2026, surrounded by the love of family and friends.

Mona was born on May 10, 1930, in Otsego, MI to Howard and Edna Barney.  It was the height of the Depression, and her family moved to Pittsburgh, PA, where her father found work in a wax paper mill.  The family later returned to Michigan, where Mona graduated from Allegan High School in 1948.  Mona participated in the cheerleading squad her senior year. She also took a part-time job at the local telephone company working on the switchboard.  She said she took her first paycheck and bought her mother a watch.

Soon after graduation, she met James Travis Giles of Sulphur Springs, TX, while he was working in the area.  The two married in the fall of 1949 and moved to Sulphur Springs to make their home.  In November of 1951, they had their eldest son, Travis Lynn, and in September of 1954 they had their youngest son, Randy Lee.  As time went on, the family tree grew to include five grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

Her husband, James Travis, was employed as a heavy machine operator building out oil and gas pipelines across the country.  Although the family moved frequently following work opportunities, they always returned to their home base in Sulphur Springs, where they owned a home and farmed cattle.

The family was driven by a strong work ethic, and Mona was no exception.  She devoted herself to creating a welcoming home, raising her young children and providing care for elderly in-laws.  But she could also be found birthing cows, riding a tractor and chasing a stray bull or two across a pasture with her pickup.

After her husband passed away in 1988, Mona began participating in a number of community volunteer organizations for which she received many commendations, including one signed by President Obama and another signed by Texas Governor, Rick Perry.

From time-to-time she dabbled in hobbies such as bird feeding and watching, bowling, macrame and oil painting.  In her latter years, she became passionately involved in ceramics classes, and spent many hours painting her delicate art projects, while her dog and cat played happily at her feet.

Her passions were her Lord, her family, her friends, her dog and her coffee.

 

As a young adult in Sulphur Springs she was a member of Central Baptist Church.  She later changed her membership to United Methodist Church, which subsequently became Grace Methodist Church.  She served as President of the Crusaders class for a several years, and at times, taught Sunday School there.

Mona had a profound belief in the sanctity of all life.  She once rescued a kitten in her yard with a dislocated hip and nursed it back to health.  To the surprise of her family, she once jumped out of the car on a busy bridge in Austin, TX to chase and try to save a stray dog.
Undoubtedly, her dogs were one of her strongest passions.  She claims to have had a dog by her side for the past 90 years.  She kept such good care of her pets, one relative quipped, “When I die, I want to come back as Mona’s dog.”

Mona will be remembered by friends and family for her welcoming spirit, her sense of humor and entertaining storytelling.  She loved nothing more than to hold court on her back patio, perched on a wicker swing, regaling visitors with tales of her many escapades.
She has been described as spunky, a hoot, a character, one of a kind and an overall exceptional woman.  She will be greatly missed, but we trust she has found rest and peace.

Mona was preceded in death by her father, Howard Frederick Barney, her mother, Edna May Carman Barney, her husband, James Travis Giles and her brother, Claude Barney. She is survived by her two sons, Travis Lynn Giles and Randy Lee Giles and their spouses, Karen Marie and Sharron Lee. Mona is also survived by five grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren, including: Travis Drew Giles, spouse, Sarah, and twin sons, Henry and Hudson; KC Scroggins and children, James Hagen, Cannon Jack, and KK; Jessica Giles-Boardman and spouse, Trey, and their children Raelynn, and twins, Connor and Kendra; Tracy Juarez and spouse, Joe, and their children Mona Louise, Sandra, Katherine and Joey; and, Sara Caldwell and spouse, Blake, and children, Adly, Laney and Kory. Mona was also survived by two dear friends who she considered to be her unofficially adopted daughters, Deanna Anderson of Texas and Jody Waggoner of Michigan. Throughout life and Mona’s long battle with congestive heart failure, these two checked in almost daily with FaceTimes, phone calls, texts and personal visits. They were an instrumental part of her support team, and spawned the perennial “Love you more,” conclusion to every phone call.

The family would like to give special thanks to the staff members at Hopkins Court assisted living where she stayed for her last 12 months, as well as Chambers Hospice, who provided care for the last 9 months. The family would also like to acknowledge the faithful members of Grace Methodist church who visited and prayed with her often.

Arrangements are under the direction of West Oaks Funeral Home.

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