Connie Gayle Barnes

Connie Gayle Barnes of Spokane, Wash., returned to the loving arms of our Heavenly Father on Friday, June 12, 2015, after a very brave and courageous battle with breast cancer. Connie was born Dec. 1, 1943, in Oakley, Idaho. She was the first-born child of Harry Gale Washburn and Elma Port Washburn. Connie’s career started as a hair stylist after putting herself through school; later in life; she worked in the fields side-by-side with her husband on their farm in Ephrata Wash., and then studied and worked with a physical therapist for the last 25 years of her life before she decided she wanted to help young children and took a job with the school district at age 68 to work with special needs children. Connie had a huge love affair with life and enjoyed every moment, every experience to the fullest. Her greatest accomplishment was the birth of her daughter, Tully Rae, and the friendship that they shared. Her greatest joy came from the birth of her two grandchildren, Abigail Marie Kasparek and Oliver Frank Kasparek. Connie was a devoted mother and grandmother. As a mother, she was tough, strong, full of advice, but most of all loving; as a grandmother, she made sure she attended every baseball, soccer game and school event that her grandkids were involved in. She loved sharing her knowledge of all that she had learned in this life and special memories she had of her childhood. She loved her siblings and was always the first to offer advice and be there for anyone at anytime. She opened her home to nieces or nephews that needed a secure warm environment at a tough time in their life. She loved to read, cook, paint; she loved camping and fishing; she played guitar, was the best yodeler you will ever hear; she loved riding her Harley; she joined her daughter in annual fun runs; she was admired by so many for her energy and zest for Life. She was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and devoted to its teachings. Connie was preceded in death by her father, Harry Gale Washburn; husband, Raymond L. Barnes; paternal grandparents and in-laws, Lynn A Barnes, Dora Atkinson Barnes. Connie is survived by her daughter, Tully Rae; and her husband, Gary Kasparek; her grandchildren, Abigail Marie Kasparek and Oliver Frank Kasparek; her nephew whom she welcomed into her home and raised as her own son, Douglas Gary Barnes Jr.; and his sons, Cameron Barnes and Ashton Barnes; her mother, Elma Port Washburn; six siblings, Kate (Marc) Williams, Harry James (Connie) Washburn, Darryl Clifton (Lyn) Washburn, Robert William (Hollie) Washburn, Lorrie (Bill) Turner and Terrell (Bryan) Gorringe; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, please send donations or remembrances to the Oakley Vigilanties, Oakley, ID 83346 (208) 431-1832; or the American Cancer Society http://www.cancersocietyofamerica.org/donate-charity-research.html. There will be a graveside service at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 20, at the Oakley Cemetery.

Connie Gayle Barnes

December 1, 1943 - June 12, 2015