Barbara Spencer’s home is filled with family treasures, Civil War memorabilia, and memories of the life she built with her husband. When financial difficulties put that home at risk, a deal with Gateway Royalty gave Barbara the security she needed to stay.
Barbara Spencer
Belmont County, Ohio
A Home Filled with Stories
Barbara Spencer has always had a deep appreciation for history. Growing up, she traveled with her family to famous Civil War battlefields, where her father would share what he had learned about the people and events connected to each place.
Those experiences inspired Barbara to begin collecting objects that preserve important stories and memories.
“I have a lot of stuff,” Barbara said. “A lot of it is very old, and a lot of it has a lot of memories. I have Civil War swords, I have Civil War hats, I have guns from the Civil War.”
Her collection also includes belongings passed down through her family and her husband’s family over many years.
“I can walk through my house and tell you where everything came from, about when it came from, where it came from in my family,” Barbara said. “Everything in this house has a story to it, and it has a lot of memories for me. It keeps me grounded.”
Many of those memories are connected to her husband, Tim.
“So many of the things that I have remind me of him, and it’s such a wonderful memory,” she said. “I can touch it 100 times a day and still think of him, and where he was when he got it.”
A Life Built Together
Barbara and Tim were married in 1974. They were not only husband and wife; they also spent much of their working lives side by side.
“My husband and I worked together for 44 years,” Barbara said. “We were together 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we still liked each other.”
After retiring in 2002, Barbara and Tim moved to Belmont County to be closer to their children. They found property next to their daughter and son-in-law, giving them a home where they could remain connected to their family.
“It was nice property that was right next to my daughter and son-in-law, which is exactly a perfect place for us because they’re very good to us,” Barbara said.
The house became more than a place to live. It held the belongings they had collected, the life they had shared, and decades of memories Barbara wanted to preserve.
Facing an Uncertain Future
When Tim began experiencing health problems, the couple also faced growing financial difficulties.
“Things became very difficult for us, and it was a month-to-month situation,” Barbara explained. “Any time, I could’ve lost this home. I definitely wanted to keep it while he was still alive, and then afterward because his memory was here.”
Tim passed away in 2012. Along with grieving the loss of her husband, Barbara worried that she might also lose the home that held so many reminders of their life together.
“It was very difficult for me because I was very worried about losing my house,” she said. “All of my memories were here, of him, and I really didn’t want to lose it.”
Barbara needed greater financial certainty. At that stage of her life, waiting for unpredictable royalty payments was less valuable to her than receiving an upfront payment she could use immediately.
That was when she decided to respond to a letter she had received from Gateway Royalty.
A Call That Changed Barbara’s Life
“I decided to call Gateway because I was having a hard time financially,” Barbara said. “Being the age I am, the royalties didn’t interest me as much as what they were offering me, to help me keep my home.”
Barbara’s situation was not simple. Gateway worked directly with her and her mortgage company to resolve the challenges standing in the way and complete a transaction that would give her the stability she needed.
“Gateway has changed my life immensely,” Barbara said. “Because of what Gateway has done for me, I will now be able to stay in my home, and I’ll be able to live a little beyond month-to-month.”
The deal gave Barbara more than financial relief. It gave her peace of mind and allowed her to remain surrounded by the belongings, stories, and memories that meant so much to her.
More Time for What Matters Most
With less financial stress, Barbara could turn her attention toward the people and experiences that make her life meaningful.
“I have six grandchildren and I have six great-grandchildren,” she said. “They call me Gummy, because I always have chewing gum. They come to Gummy’s house and they stay overnight, and I make them chocolate chip pancakes.”
Barbara continues making new memories in the same home that already holds so many from the past. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren can visit, spend the night, and learn the stories behind the objects she has collected throughout her life.
For Barbara, the opportunity to sell her mineral interests was not simply a financial transaction. It allowed her to preserve her home, protect the memories of her husband, and continue sharing that home with the generations that followed.
“Thanks to Gateway, I’m able to keep my home and all of my memories.”
VP, Operations
Gateway Royalty
At Gateway Royalty we offer upfront payment for mineral interests so you and your neighbors can put the cash to work immediately. Read more stories from people we’ve helped to see the impact we’re making in your community.
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