Obituary - Barbara C. McKinley
June 9, 1933 – Dec. 28, 2011
January 7, 2012
June 9, 1933 – Dec. 28, 2011
Longtime Sublette County resident Barbara McKinley passed away on Dec. 28, 2011, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Barbara McKinley was born in Billings, Mont., on June 9, 1933, to Wynne and Doris Clark of Powell, Wyoming.
Barbara grew up on the Clark family farm in Powell, and spent many happy days riding her horses over the rangeland. She attended Powell schools and graduated from Powell High School in 1951. She then began her studies at the University of Wyoming.
On Aug. 8, 1952 Barbara married her high school beau, Stuart McKinley, and they started their long life together. Both attended the University of Wyoming for a time until moving to Sandy Hook, New Jersey, where Stuart was stationed in the Army during the Korean War. During their time there, Barbara worked at the Long Branch Daily Record.
After Stuart was discharged from the Army, Barbara and Stuart returned to Wyoming and attended the University of Wyoming. Barbara worked in the Dean of Men’s Office and was a part-time student while Stuart finished his degree in geology.
Stuart’s work for Belco Petroleum soon took the couple to Central and South America. Barbara and Stuart made their home in Coban, Guatemala and then Guatemala City, where their daughter Carol was born. Later, they moved to Lima, Peru, where Stuart began mapping the Amazon Basin. During their time in Peru, their son John was born. Barbara enjoyed the challenge of living in foreign countries and learning the customs and language. She had many stories and fond memories of those adventurous times.
After their time in Peru, Barbara and Stuart would move to New Jersey and Salt Lake City before finally moving back to Barbara’s beloved Wyoming and settling in Big Piney. Stuart continued his work for Belco Petroleum and Barbara was able to resume her studies. She graduated from the University of Wyoming with a degree in education and taught English at Big Piney High School for 17 years.
Barbara and Stuart moved to Daniel, Wyoming, in 1971, where Barbara found great pleasure in life on Horse Creek. After retiring from teaching, Barbara began a long career volunteering in Sublette County. She was a board member of the Pinedale Fine Arts Council, Sublette County Library, University of Wyoming Alumni Association and the Green River Valley Museum. Barbara was also a longtime member of the P.E.O. and Artists Guild. She found her service to the community she loved to be very fulfilling.
During their retirement years, Barbara and Stuart enjoyed traveling and visited many countries, meeting many interesting people and gaining new experiences. Barbara loved the outdoors, riding, skiing and time spent with her grandchildren.
Barbara was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She was preceded in death by her parents Wynne and Doris Clark, and her husband Stuart McKinley. She is survived by her brother Wilber (Sue) Clark of Helena, Mont.; daughter Carol (Karl) Atkins of Portland, Oregon; son John (Kathleen) of Cheyenne; and grandchildren Jesse McKinley of Billings, Montana; Elizabeth McKinley of San Francisco, Calif.; Laura McKinley of Cheyenne; Ian Atkins of Brooklyn, New York; and Peter (Kristi, Hillsboro, Oregon) Atkins, stationed in Afghanistan.
A memorial service will be held in Pinedale at a later date. The family requests that any memorial gifts be sent to the Green River Valley Museum in Big Piney.
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