Barbara Jane Weems

Barbara Jane Weems passed away on November 25, 2024. She was born on July 9, 1933 outside of Big Spring, TX. Her childhood was an upbringing during hard times and scarce resources. Despite this she always had a positive attitude that she had her entire life. She attended a small country school (Moore Elementary) and as a 2nd grader was already playing basketball with 6th graders. Her parents lived and worked on a farm, raising livestock and planting cotton. Whenever she was not doing chores around her family’s small house, she grew up to be a very active tomboy and loved playing with her older brothers. As a 6-year-old she was already learning how to drive a small tractor. During her school years she loved participating in girl scouts and played baseball with the boys. She moved to West Columbia, Texas in 1942 and graduated from West Columbia High School in 1951. While there she was a straight A student and voted the most popular girl. She was in the band, and captain of the basketball team that made a state playoff appearance. It was there she began a long love of playing tennis. She was a highly competitive tennis player and won most of the tournaments she played in. After Highschool attended Sam Houston State Teachers College in Huntsville for two years and then worked for the State Highway Department in Austin. As a 9th grader in West Columbia, she met and started dating her future Husband, Sands S. Weems III, and after 10 years of dating was married on August 24, 1957.

As a mother and military wife, she helped raise her 2 sons in Austin and other cities coaching them in baseball and football skills.

In 1978 she went work for American Airlines in the reservation department working with their SABRE system. During a temporary assignment in San Francisco, a 6.9 magnitude earthquake hit the area, also known as the World Series Earthquake, which extended her stay there several months. One of the benefits with AA included travel to England, Switzerland, Canada, Alaska, Puerto Rico, Germany, Australia, Mexico, Hawaii, and many other destinations around the world. She retired in 1995 and continued to enjoy flying benefits and seeing her many friends. Jane was fun loving and loved watching the Dallas Cowboys play and was excited to see them break a 5-game losing streak. She was very competitive even playing bridge or other card games with friends. Jane was very focused and energetic and was a 35-year cancer survivor. Oldsmobile cars were also one of her passions and she enjoyed driving Rocket Oldsmobile 88 cars. 

Jane Weems is preceded in death by her parents Faye and Dave Leatherwood, and brothers Harold and Bill Leatherwood. She is survived by her two sons, Charles and Sands Weems of Arlington, Texas and her granddaughter Alyssa Weems of Irving, Texas, and niece Ann Baker of West Columbia and numerous nieces, cousins, friends and extended family members. Rodney and Beth Pirtle, Janet Basey, and Linda and Gilbert Brown. She made fast and loving friends of Residents at Town Village Crossing and Carver Heights Estates in Arlington, Texas.

Jane’s loss is deeply felt by those who knew her. She was well known for her red hair, competitive nature and fun-loving attitude. She will be greatly missed by all.

A graveside memorial will be held December 18th, 2024, at the Old Columbia Cemetery at 401 S. 16th Street, West Columbia, Texas 77486 at 11:00 am, followed by a reception at the American Legion Hall, 219 Veterans Park Road, West Columbia, Texas 77486.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.ctbakerfuneral.com