Julie Marie Barham

Julie Marie Barham (1948-2024) Julie Marie Barham, 76, of Muskogee, Oklahoma, died at home unexpectedly after a brief illness on November 12, 2024. On April 5, 1948, she was born in Washington, D.C., to Francis Moran Brooke and Mary Jane Purcell Brooke. Julie was very proud of her Irish and French heritage. Her grandmother, Julie Marie Machereau, was one of the first French war brides in Washington, D.C. after World War I. The Brooke siblings enjoyed a varied and interesting life, as their father served as Director at several National Cemeteries, including Nicholasville, Kentucky; Beaufort, South Carolina; Leavenworth, Kansas; and Fort Gibson, Oklahoma. In April 1967, Julie met a handsome soldier, John Joseph Barham, in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Excited to start their new life together, they were married September 9 of that year. John’s Army career took them to Wurzburg, Germany, where they welcomed their daughter Bernadette Marie. Two years later, in Pontiac, Michigan, their son Brian Kenneth was born. While John was stationed in various places, the family lived in El Paso, Texas. In 1980, John retired from the Army, and the family moved to Oklahoma to be near Julie’s parents who were serving at the Fort Gibson National Cemetery. In Muskogee, Julie began an almost 20-year career as a newspaper carrier for the Muskogee Daily Phoenix. Julie was an enthusiastic member of the Backpack Ministry at Boulevard Christian Church, where she helped fill backpacks with shelf-stable food for 100+ food-insecure Muskogee elementary students to eat on the weekends. She loved everything to do with cats, was an avid reader, attended the Oklahoma Renaissance Faire as often as possible, and remained a lifelong fan of the Texas Rangers. However, her favorite activity was loving on the grandchildren. Julie was preceded in death by her parents, her husband John, and her brother Francis Michael “Mike” Brooke. She is survived by her daughter Bernadette (Thomas) Beattie of Muskogee, and son Brian (Janelle) Barham of Joplin, Missouri, and beloved grandchildren, Declan Beattie, Jana Barham, and Jeana Barham. Surviving siblings are James “Jimmy” and Robert “Bobby” Brooke of Muskogee and Rosemary “Molly” (Joe) Elwell of Beaumont, Texas. Nieces and nephews are Christina Brooke of Dallas, Texas, and Eric Brooke of India; Kelly, James Jr. “J.J.”, and Laurabeth Brooke of Muskogee, and Marilyn and John Elwell of Beaumont, Texas. “Bonus” grandchildren are Zack, Kayley, Erica, and Lydia Kovacs of Muskogee and Joel Kovacs of Creston, Iowa. A Celebration of Life for Julie Marie Barham will be held at Boulevard Christian Church, 1700 W. Shawnee St., Muskogee, Oklahoma, on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.

Julie Marie Barham

April 5, 1948 - November 12, 2024