Helen Barkley
Helen Barkley died on July 22, 2003 at Winchester District Memorial Hospital. She was 89.
She was predeceased three years earlier by husband George Barkley, whom she married on Nov. 5, 1935 in Williamsburg. Her last address was Dundas Manor Nursing Home, where she lived for eight and a half months.
She was born in Matilda Township on Aug. 2, 1913 to the late Leroy Geggie and Elizabeth (nee Cooper). She was a homemaker and a lifetime resident of the Williamsburg area.
She will be remembered by children Ralph (Anne Carkner) of Williamsburg, Gerry (Sandra Scott) of Williamsburg, Allen (Beverly Holmes) of Kingston and Linda (Bill) Dawson of Chatham. Also surviving is brother Jack (Berneice) of Kingston.
She was predeceased by siblings Grace Knight, Edith Bell, Margaret Flaro, Robert, Ted, and Kenneth; and sisters-in-law Annie McIntosh and Ruth Whitteker.
She was proud grandma of Dave, Jamie and Chris Barkley; Jeff (Diana) Barkley; Allison (Jeremy) Morrow; Kyle Scott; Lisa Barkley (Brett Yeske); Diane (Ian) Fitze; Adam and Maia Kirby; and great-grandchildren Joshua, Jacob, Travis and Kaitlyn Barkley; Katherine and Emily Fitze; and Kyra and Aiden Yeske. She was special aunt of June (Percy) Armstrong of Winchester. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, as well as many friends and neighbors on Saving Street. She was sister-in-law of Verna (Ray) Bernarde of Pickerel, Wisconsin.
She possessed a nurturing and generous spirit which was evident throughout her long life. She always put the needs of others before her own. No matter how bad things might be, her expression was always, "Oh well, I can't complain; it could be worse." She loved birds and, indeed, every living thing. She loved to create. She was a wonderful cook. She had an enormous garden. She could sew, knit, tat, crochet, quilt, milk cows, and can tomatoes on a wood stove. She was a member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Williamsburg.
Friends called at the Marsden and McLaughlin Funeral Home in Williamsburg on July 24. The funeral was on July 25 at the funeral home with Rev. Mark Ehlebracht officiating. Interment was at Old Union Cemetery in Williamsburg.
Pallbearers were Dave, Jamie and Chris Barkley; and Kyle Scott. Donations to the Winchester District Memorial Hospital or St. Peter's Lutheran Church would be appreciated by the family.