STEPHENVILLE, Texas — The estate of the late Barbara Jean McKeage, a longtime nurse, honored her legacy recently with the creation of an endowed scholarship at Tarleton State University to benefit students in the School of Nursing.
McKeage started her career as a secretary, with a dream was to one day be a nurse. She eventually worked her way through school and achieved her goal of becoming a registered nurse. Much of her career was spent in the intensive care unit, first in Troy, Mo. and later in Stephenville.
She regularly volunteered to take holiday shifts at the hospital so that other nurses with children could spend the holiday with their families. She enjoyed a long career, a calling she loved, before retiring in 2007.
McKeage often talked about how difficult it was to go back to school to become an RN and how proud she was of that accomplishment.
Her final desire was to use some of what she and Bob had been blessed with to make a difference for others that are called to the career of nursing.
McKeage’s estate gifted Tarleton State with $84,000 to create the scholarship fund which will benefit others for years to come.
“We are grateful for this generous gift from Barbara Jean McKeage’s estate,” said Dr. Ramona Parker, Associate Vice President and Executive Dean for the College of Health Sciences. “This gift allows the nursing school to provide scholarships for nursing students. Establishing this endowment speaks to Mrs. McKeage’s desire to support others like her, who answered the call to become a nurse and be of service to others.”
A founding member of The Texas A&M System, Tarleton State University is breaking records — in enrollment, research, scholarship, athletics, philanthropy and engagement — while transforming the lives of approximately 18,000 students in Stephenville, Fort Worth, Waco, Bryan and online. For 125 years, Tarleton State has been committed to accessible higher education opportunities for all while helping students grow academically, socially and professionally through programs that emphasize real world learning and address regional, state and national needs.