Lela Kelly Barkley

Lela (Kelly) Barkley died on September 11, 2024; she was ninety. Lee was a proud Oregonian, growing up in Mill City and having 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, Lee met Paul Barkley at a church youth retreat in Portland. They were married following 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 3 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 Attorneys’ office. Her exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail enabled her to make many contributions to the efficiency of those offices. Upon their retirement, Lee and Paul moved to Corvallis, Oregon.

Lee’s love of cooking and meal planning was part of her essence. Throughout her life this translated into incredible family meals and fabulous dinner parties. 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. Lee’s research ability, especially in pre-internet times was impressive. She traveled widely with Paul throughout the country as well as Ireland and the UK, visiting county court houses and documenting her findings--even tracing her roots back to the Mayflower. Lee and Paul also made a number of non-genealogy related trips, the Oregon coast, Washington DC 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).

Special thanks to Jean and Leroy Rogers for their lifetime of friendship with Lee and the whole family.

Memorial contributions may be made to the North Santiam Historical Society in Mill City, Oregon.