After a difficult battle with declining health, Shirley Joan Barkley (Rissky), age 86, passed away peacefully at home on February 20, 2022 surrounded by her loved ones.

Born in Chicago, IL on April 8, 1935 to Frank and Caroline Rissky (Korenchan), Shirley was described as a bundle of energy and determination. Shirley was passionate about her love of animals and gardening from a very young age. She also participated in various card games and bowling clubs over the years. Shirley loved attending with friends theater performances at the La Mirada Civic theater for many years.

On a warm sunny day in February 1956, Shirley met Raymond Barkley at Redondo Beach when Ray asked to look at her Mad Magazine comic books and the rest is history. They went on to be married for 43 years, had 2 children, 2 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren.

Shirley was a wonderful, loving mother and was our biggest cheerleader and our constant supporter. Our family would not be where it is today if we didn’t have Shirley as a mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. 

Shirley was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Barkley, her son, Russell Barkley, her father, Frank Rissky, her mother Caroline (Korenchen-Rissky) Patarini and her brother Terence Rissky. 

She leaves behind her daughter, Jennifer (Barkley) Garren (husband, Steve), her grandchildren Nathan Zuniga (wife, Jerica), Alexandria (Lexy) Zuniga, great-grandchildren,  Ariana and Nash Zuniga and Remi Johnson and step-grandchildren, Tanner Garren and Victoria Garren. 

Services will be held at White Emerson Mortuary, 13304 E. Philadelphia Street, Whittier CA on March 31, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name honoring Shirley’s love of animals to VIDA (Volunteers in Defense of Animals) www.vida4animals.org/donate

Send to someone

Share this obituary with others

https://everloved.com/life-of/shirley-barkley/obituary/

Copy