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In memory of

Raymond Charles Barkley

Tucson, AZ

November 8, 1928 - January 26, 2018

Nov 8, 1928 - Jan 26, 2018

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Raymond Barkley - TUCSON, AZ - (89 yrs) Ray Barkley passed away quietly, Friday (January 26, 2018) after a long and healthy life.
Ray is survived by his wife, Norrine, (3) children: Patrice, Ross & Kathy. (4) step-children: Lynne, Mary, Jacque & Eric (wife Rachelle).
He also leaves behind (16) grand-children: Eric, Sarah, Sam, Elizabeth,Johnathon, ...Lauryn, Ryan, Tara, Greg, Eric, Travis, Julia and Chad.
(3) great-grand children: Jaylin, Hayden, Bryce.

Ray was born the second youngest of 7 children, (4) brothers (4) sisters, in Ardmore, S. Dakota (all are now deceased).
Parents, Ivan and Esther Barkley homesteaded their 5000 acres cattle ranch during the great depression.

When asked, Ray recounted his days of riding his horse to school early in the mornings to a small one room school house; the notorious S. Dakota winter blizzards; caring for the sheep while his older brother's took care of the cattle; his favorite horse; and the day he had to ride a cow to school because all the horses were being ridden by the ranch-hands.

Ray graduated with a degree in Geology, from the University of S. Dakota.
His first employer following college was with the Atomic Energy Commission (His service in the U.S. Army), Next with Kerr-McGee (Geologist), Conoco - Occidental Oil (Minerals Division - District Geologist), finally Uranerz Energy Corporation.

Ray is a U.S Army Veteran of the Korean War. (1953-1955) Awarded (3) Service Medals: National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, Korean Service Medal. He applied his skills as a Statigrapher.

Following many successful years as a Senior Professional in his field, Ray worked as an Independent Consultant assisting companies with their exploration needs - i.e. gold, uranium, copper and other hard metals.

You could always find Ray downstairs in his home office amongst the usual equiptment; drafting table, light table, mylar drawings, USGS maps, and colorful mineral rocks decorating every windowsill throughout the house.

Ray kept life-long friendships with fellow Geologist (and other industry folk - i.e. Drillers, etc) all were very special to him. Remembering Ray around his friends, you would always find him there with his quiet demeanor to laugh at their jokes, and above all, always enjoying the pleasure of good friendship.
Ray Barkley always gave a friendly smile, genuine handshake and a sincere welcome for the true spirit of a man that he was.

Retiring for a while to Florida with Norrine (second wife - surviving), Ray continued to give to the local community, using his MBA degree, he taught as a teacher in the Juvenile Tampa Florida correctional facility, Ray assisted the juvenile students with reading, math, science, physics, geometry, and algebra. Guiding them but with his "Nice Guy but - No Nonsense" style.
Ray was humble in regards to the young lives he changed, but the letters written by the facility students to Ray on graduation day were heartfelt and lined with chiding humor, showing that they had connected with Ray on an almost "To Sir With Love" level.

Returning to Tucson, Ray and his wife (Norrine) attended with their family the Casa Adobe's Baptist Church. Ray was active in the Gidean's and Men's Bible Fellowship.

We will miss your gentle smile, quiet strength and strong sense of responsibility.
May God bless you, keep you in his arms; you were a cherished soul, reliable friend, loving father and amazing husband.

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