BARKLEY, Nancy Mae

The Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, June 29, 2005 Nancy Mae Barkley, was born April 26, 1939 in Prescott, Arizona. Nancy is the first child and only daughter of Sidney J. Wells and Eva Dee Everett Wells. Nancy's early years were spent in Williams, Arizona where she attended school. Nancy's family moved to Payson, Arizona when she was in the 10th grade. Nancy graduated from Payson High School in 1957. Nancy married Thomas (Tom) O. Barkley on May 16, 1957 in the First Baptist Church on Main Street in Payson. The wedding was officiated by Reverend Verl Walker. Nancy and Tom had two sons. Thomas Lee was born April 26, 1958 in Mesa, Arizona and William J. was born December 31, 1960 also in Mesa. The Barkley family had a home in Central Heights, Arizona, where Tom worked for Meeks Plumbing. They also lived in Phoenix and Gallup, New Mexico where Tom worked on road construction. They settled in Payson and bought a house in 1967. The family spent a lot of time going back and forth between Payson and Gisela and moved permanently to Gisela on the Barkley ranch in 1976. Nancy worked at the Payson Hospital, Arizona Public Service and at the Gisela Steakhouse. She was a homemaker for many years. While Nancy lived in Payson, Nancy attended the Southern Baptist Church. Nancy became an accomplished painter and painted beautiful pictures of various wildlife and animals. She taught oil painting classes at Eastern Arizona College until the mid 1990's when she retired from teaching the painting class. Nancy was an excellent cook, and enjoyed going hunting with the family. She enjoyed parties and especially enjoyed costume parties at Halloween. Nancy loved animals and had a pet cow name Plum, who would come to her yard fence every morning for her bucket of sweet feed. Nancy recently had been diagnosed with ALS commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease. She passed away in Scottsdale, Arizona on June 24th, 2005. Nancy will be greatly missed by her family and many friends. Nancy is predeceased by her father Sidney J. Wells Sr. and her son Thomas Lee Barkley. She is survived by her husband Tom and son Bill (wife Debbie ) of Gisela. Her mother Eva, and brother Sid (wife DeVon) and nephew Quenton also of Gisela. She is survived by a grandson Ned Barkley of Tonto Basin and a sister-in-law Chach Barkley of Gisela. The Family request donations to Hospice of the Valley, 5111 N. Scottsdale Rd Ste 108 Scottsdale AZ. Published in The Arizona Republic on June 29, 2005