Lela (Kelly) Barkley, 90, died Sept. 11, 2024. Lee grew up in Mill City and had great-grandparents who came to the region on the Oregon Trail. The daughter of Charles and Mary Kelly, she was active in Rainbow Girls in her youth and was a cheerleader at Mill City High School.
Lee was a first-generation college student, attending Oregon State University and graduating with a degree in Home Economics. While attending Oregon State, she met Paul Barkley and they married after her graduation.
Lee went on to teach Home Economics at Shedd before moving to Manhattan, Kansas, where Paul began graduate school. Following the birth of their three sons and several moves, they settled in Pullman, Washington, where they would spend most of their married life and raise their boys.
While in Pullman, Lee worked as an administrative assistant for the school district, followed by Washington State University’s Department of Forestry and later the University’s attorneys office. Upon their retirement, Lee and Paul moved to Corvallis, Oregon.
Lee’s love of cooking and meal planning was part of her essence. She taught her sons to cook and loved making “goodie” rolls with her grandchildren. She also was an accomplished quilter, creating many beautiful works of fabric art.
Her other passion was family history. She had research ability. She traveled widely with Paul throughout the country as well as Ireland and the UK, visiting county court houses and documenting her findings – tracing her roots back to the Mayflower. Lee and Paul also made a number of non-genealogy related trips, the Oregon coast, Washington, D.C., and Hawaii being among their favorites.
Survivors include her husband, Paul; brother, John-Charles (Chuck); sons, Dan (Wendy), Chris, and Andy (Mary Ellen); and grandchildren, Alex, Emily, Katie and Charlie (Deneige).
Memorial contributions may be made to the North Santiam Historical Society in Mill City, Oregon.