Barbara Ellen Berkley passed away February 12, 2019 at the Red Bud Village in Plainville, KS at the age of 94. She was born in Willits, CA on December 13, 1924 to Bernard W. Booker and Leota A. (Provines) Booker. Barbara married Warren “Jim” Riffel on January 13, 1944 in Oakland, CA. They were blessed with two children: Robert and Cynthia. Barbara later married Jack Berkley in 1978 blessing her with three step-children: John, James, and Patricia.
Barbara was born and raised in California. She graduated high school and attended two years of college studying art at the University of Berkeley. When WWII began, her schooling ended and she began her first job at a five-and-dime store. Barbara met her husband Jim, and they were blessed with Robert and Cynthia. They later relocated to Jim’s hometown of Stockton where Barbara was a bookkeeper for the sale barn and Ostmeyer Implement. She also worked at Solomon Valley Manor for a short time.
Barbara loved to paint everything from beautiful hollowed-out Easter eggs, mermaids in her pool, and grand sceneries on walls. She also enjoyed crewel embroidery, golfing, traveling and shopping. She had an eye for sales and was still shopping just two days before she passed for her “shimmery jacket”. Barbara loved, and was so loved by, her assisted-living nurses. Always the life of the party, she made everyone’s time at the home good.
Barbara is survived by her son, Robert Riffel and wife Kay of Stockton; daughter, Cynthia McDowell of Stockton; step-sons, John Berkley and wife Malee and James Berkley and wife Vicky of Stockton; step-son-in-law, Roger Taylor of Leawood; 4 grandchildren, Niki Cullum and husband Brian of Leawood, Wade McDowell and wife Suzie of Hill City, Christine Riffel of Topeka, and Tasha Kuhlmann and husband Danny of Wichita; 7 great-grandchildren, Lexie McDowell of Manhattan, Aaron, and Brody McDowell of Hill City, Madison and Colby Riffel-Kuhlmann of Wichita, and Imani and Preston Cullum of Leawood; 8 step-grandchildren, Rick Sanders and family of Bellevue, NE, Jerry Sanders of Stockton, Jonathan Berkley and family of Stockton, Brian Berkley and family of Stockton, Renee Earl and family of Alabama, Thui Miller and family of Topeka, Brooke Taylor of Kansas City, and Michael Taylor of Denver.
Barbara is preceded in death by her parents Bernard and Leota; husband Jack Berkley; step-daughter, Patricia Taylor; son-in-law, Arthur McDowell; daughter-in-law, Susan Riffel; and brother shot down in WWII, Robert Booker.
It has been said that the best things in life are free: hugs, smiles, friends, family, love, laughter, and good memories. Barbara will be forever missed and her memories forever cherished by family and friends alike. She showed us by example how to live every moment, laugh every day, and love beyond words.
A memorial service will be held at the funeral home in Stockton on Saturday, February 16, 2019, at 10:30 A.M. Burial will follow at the Stockton cemetery. There will be no visitation. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of Hays Medical Center or V.F.W. Auxiliary and may be sent in care of Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N. 1st, Stockton, KS 67669.