Barbara Lee Harkey

1946 - 2023

Barbara Lee Harkey of Vancouver, Washington, passed away peacefully on June 22 after a brief battle with cancer. She was 76 years old.
The daughter of W. K. (Bill) Harkey and his wife, Frances, Barbara grew up on the family ranch south of Gridley, California. She graduated from Manzanita Elementary School in Gridley and from Notre Dame High School in Marysville, California. She earned her bachelor's degree from Oregon State University where she was a member of the Alpha Gamma Delta Sorority. She earned her master's degree from the University of Washington.
Barbara taught Spanish in various high schools in Washington State and retired as a high school administrator/vice-principal. She was a member of Good Shepard Episcopal Church in Vancouver and a frequent visitor at St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Gridley. She was the proud mother of numerous fur babies during her life, especially basset hounds.
Barbara was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her partner, John Grogan, of Vancouver, Washington; her brother, William Harkey and his wife, Laura, of Sanibel, Florida; her niece, Allyson Harkey and her husband, Seth Alcorn, of Hyattsville, Maryland; and several cousins.
A graveside service will be held at the Gridley Cemetery on August 17, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.
Barbara lived with Type 1 Diabetes most of her life. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the American Diabetes Foundation or to one of its regional chapters, either the
American Diabetes Foundation of Oregon, SW Washington, and Idaho, or the American Diabetes Foundation of California (Northern). All are at P.O. Box 7023, Merrifield, Virginia 22116-7023.