Jean Barlow

Published 5:00 am Saturday, October 27, 2018

Jean Barlow

Jean Barlow was born on December 11, 1929 and passed away on July 15, 2018.

She was raised in Wisconsin where she studied voice and piano at the University of Wisconsin.

She moved to Houston Texas where she modeled professionally and performed musical theatre.

Jean, along with husband, Buster, their two sons, and daughter moved to Tyler in 1974.

They owned and operated “The Gold Leaf Gallery” located in the Southpark Shopping Center and later off Broadway.



They were members of the Fifth Street Presbyterian Church where both were actively involved in the choir. Jean played the piano and worked with the women of the church. Later, they founded a new church called Redeemers’ Presbyterian.

Jean wrote poetry, short stories, and plays. She was a member of a touring company which closed with Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest” where she played Lady Bracknell.

Jean is a former president of the Tyler Civic Chorale, The Tyler Music Coterie, and The Community Concert Association.

Her oldest son, Travis Leahy, was caregiver for her and her husband for the past three years. They both passed due to stage 4 cancer.

A memorial service will be held at 2 PM on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at the Green Acres Baptist Church Chapel.

To view online, go to tylerpaper.com.