Ernestine “Ma” Barnett Rogers Baxter died Wednesday, July 1, at the age of 91. Ernestine was born in Fort Davis on April 22, 1929 to Joe Morton Barnett and Lura Mae “Ludy” Carmack Barnett of Fort Davis. Ernestine was named for her Uncle Ernest Barnett, who was a sheriff in Marfa. Her paternal grandfather, Rial Barnett, was the longest running county judge in Fort Davis. Her maternal grandfather, Condie Gravis Carmack, owned a dry goods store in Fort Davis in the early 1900s.
She was raised on several ranches at the back of the Fort Davis Mountain Loop. She had a wonderful childhood with close knit family ties. She and her sister Nellie swam in the water tank and kept horny toads as pets, even walking them with a string leash around their necks.
Ernestine was educated in Valentine, Texas at the Valentine Public School through the twelfth grade. She went to school in a horse and buggy and studied by a kerosene lamp, in her early days. She was Valedictorian of her graduating class. She went on to college but decided to return home to manage her Dad’s Drug Store in Valentine, which he had just purchased. There she realized her love of the service industry and restaurant management.
She later opened Harvey’s Restaurant in Sanderson, which she managed for many years. Ernestine was a staple of the community. During the devastating flood of 1965 in Sanderson, Ernestine opened her restaurant to displaced families, railroad workers, law enforcement and 1st responders. Since the restaurant was the only place that had access to potable water after the flood, she fed anyone in need, at no cost. Ernestine cared deeply for her community.
She went on to manage many restaurants and college cafeterias in the Texas cities of Del Rio, Corpus Christi, Denton, Paris, Austin and then back to Corpus Christi.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joe Morton and Ludy, sister Nellie Mae, husband Wally, and daughter Sandra Kay Wright.
Survivors include one daughter, Vickey Lynn (Willie Robert) Wright of Marfa, Texas, and one son, Condie Joe (Therese) Rogers of Concan, Texas. Ma left a legacy of three children, 25 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren, with one on the way. The legacy includes her stepchildren and step-grandchildren.
Burial services to be privately held at Dobie Funeral Home in Mathis, Texas at a future date. To read the complete obituary, please go to https://www.dobiefuneralhome.com/obituary/ernestine-baxter.
Peace be with all of you, and may God bless and keep you.