BARNES, Virginia Marie

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 02/19/2013 Virginia Marie (Harrison) Barnes, 84, died peacefully Dec. 26, 2012 at home and made the journey to be with her eternal father. She was born April 15, 1928 in Janesville, Wis. to James and Edna (Lock) Harrison, and graduated High School in Milton, Wis. She married Archie Robert “Bob” Barnes June 4, 1949, in Milton, Wis. and soon started a family, giving birth to her first daughter(s) in Janesville. She and her family moved out west and in 1953, she gave birth to her second daughter in Winslow. She and her family moved again that same year to Reserve, N.M., where she lived for 17 years and gave birth to three sons. While living in Reserve, she was very active in the community, namely the women’s club, and also performed the duties as the Catron County DMV clerk, working out of the family home. In 1970, she and her family moved to Lakeside, due to her husband’s job promotion, but later divorced in 1972. She lived in the Sun City/Youngtown/Peoria area for a number of years, where she worked for various employers in food service. In 2007, her health started to decline so she moved to El Cajon, Calif., where she lived with her son Kevin, his wife Beverly, and their family. After an immediate heart surgery, she regained her health and stamina. She told people that she felt young again and like a new woman. She joined the Morning Star Lutheran Church, where she became a very active member. She enjoyed the Sunday services and never wanted to miss going to church unless she was ill. She enjoyed socializing with everyone, helping out with the summer bible school classes and especially enjoyed the monthly ladies night out to eat. She always had a kind word to say about anyone she spoke of or with, looked for the good in other people, always had a smile on her face, and could always bring a smile to others. This is a lady who made her mark while here on this earth. She will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her, but never forgotten. She is survived by two daughters: Karen (Ronald) Wilson of Silver City, N.M., Nancy Gray of Mansfield, Texas; two sons: Kevin (Beverly) Barnes of El Cajon, Calif. and Anthony “Tony” Barnes of Las Vegas, Nev.; daughter-in-law Debbie (Kerwin) Barnes with her extended family of Caldwell, Kansas; sister Lois (Kay) Gray of Milton, Wis., brother Robert (Sylvia) Harrison of Janesville, Wis., 10 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by both parents, brother James H. Harrison Jr., daughter Sharon Lee Barnes (at birth), son James Kerwin Barnes, and granddaughter Natalie Ann Teel. A memorial service to celebrate Virginia’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23, at the Morning Star Lutheran Church, 12821 Ha Hana Road, Lakeside, Calif. 92040, for all who wish to attend.