Beatrice "Bea" Barkley

A gracious, kindhearted, and independent woman, Beatrice Barkley made a significant impact in the lives of everyone she met.

In the early 1900s, America was growing like never before as immigration hit an all time peak from 1901 until 1910. It was just following this exciting time that Edward B. and Ellen (Haggerty) Kirkwood grew their own family with the birth of the baby girl they named Beatrice Mary on November 10, 1911. She was the third of seven children in her family and was raised in the family home on Bridge Street, NW, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, alongside her older brothers, Donald and Gerald, and her younger siblings, Margaret, Emmet, William, and John. Her father was a Michigan State Representative while her mother was a homemaker. Raised in the Catholic faith, Beatrice and her family were members of St. James Catholic Church. She attended St. James Elementary and graduated from Mt. Mercy Academy in 1929. Beatrice was also a gifted artist who drew beautiful pictures.

As a young woman, Beatrice worked as a bookkeeper at the Kent County Clerk’s Office, and it was there that she met Harold Barkley whom she later married in December of 1936 at the Parish Rectory of St. James Catholic Church. They settled into a home on Edith Avenue, NE, and together they were blessed with with the births of six children including Ellen, Claire, Mary, Jane, Bernard, and Laura. Sadly, Bernard died as an infant. As a family they were members of St. Alphonsus Catholic Church.

Around the house, Bea kept busy. She was an amazing cook and baker, and she also grew the most beautiful flowers and canned many of the vegetables that Harold grew. The family loved vacations camping either at Indian River or in family cottages that belonged to family members.

When her children were older Beatrice returned to the Kent County Clerk’s Office, eventually becoming the Deputy Count Clerk until retiring at 70. She also volunteered at the Blandford Nature Center where she worked for 30 years. Bea additionally kept busy reading, sewing, swimming, and visiting with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. After Harold’s death in 1965, she moved to Apple Ridge Mobile Home Park, then to a senior housing complex, and finally to St. Ann’s Home Assisted Living. Devout in her Catholic faith, Beatrice attended Sunday Mass and regularly prayed the rosary.

A beautiful woman on the inside and out, Beatrice Barkley will be forever cherished by all who knew her.

Beatrice M. “Bea” Barkley, (Kirkwood) aged 103, of Grand Rapids, passed away at St. Ann’s Home on Saturday, February 7, 2015. She was preceded in death by her husband, C. Harold Barkley, her son Bernard Barkley, her grandson, Thomas Radosevich, and great grandson, Willem Radosevich; She is survived by her children, Ellen Wood of Ionia, MI, Claire and Dennis Naughton of Foxborough, MA, Mary and Syd Baxter of Grand Rapids, Jane and Bill Digan of Fairbanks, AK Laura and Gene Makarin of Port Orchard, WA; 12 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren; her brother John “Jack” Kirkwood; her special friend, Joanne Stein; many nieces, nephews and friends. Bea was a loving and dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother who loved her family and friends. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. Cremation has taken place. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Ann’s Home Chapel – 2161 Leonard St. NW, on Tuesday, May 26 at 10:30 AM. Burial in Rosedale Cemetery. Relatives and friends may meet the family at St. Ann’s Home on Tuesday May 26, from 9:30 AM until the Mass begins at 10:30 AM. Contributions in her memory may be made to her deceased great grandson, Willem’s Building Fund at YMCA Camp Manitou-Lin, 475 Lake Michigan Dr. NW Grand Rapids MI 49504 attn: to Barb Courtright.To read more about Bea’s life, to leave your own memory of her and to sign her guest book, visit her web page at www.lifestorynet.com