Honey Bea Barkley

Honey Bea Mosher Barkley passed away March 31, 2023 at the Plaza West Nursing Home in Topeka from complications of pneumonia and COPD.  She was the youngest child of Squire Boone and Velma Elizabeth Price Mosher on December 30, 1946 at Stormont-Vail.  A premature baby weighing only 5 pounds.   She lived in several places in North Topeka growing up.  Honey Bea developed polio as a child, and through lots of care from her mom and doctors, she recovered.   Honey Bea wore leg braces up through junior high.  She attended Quincy Grade School and Curtis Junior High.  Her nickname's growing up were "Honey" and Bumble Bee".  At Seaman High School she was a member of the Pep Club and Spelling Bee and Chorus.

After graduating from Seaman High School in 1965, she worked at various employments with Southwestern Bell, the State of Kansas Revenue Department, Co-owner of Barkley Trash Hauling and was a day care provider.  Her was a member of the American Legion Post #400 Auxiliary.  She enjoyed bingo, Video poker hand held games, pinochle, pitch, casino slots, painting, crocheting, knitting, 1950's music, country music, soap operas, video movies from the library and computer games.  Highlights of Honey Bea's life would be her daughters and grandchildren.

Honey Bea was married twice, first to John Van Brunt on April 15, 1966 in Ponca City, Oklahoma.  They later divorced.  She married James Barkley on November 26, 1969 in their home.    Her niece Judy Whisler and James' brother Homer stood up with them.  They raised two beautiful daughters, Lisa Ann and Tina DeAnn.

In addition to living in Topeka, they also resided in Harrisonville, MO

Honey Bea was preceded in death by her parents, daughter, Tina Barkley; brother, Wallace Mosher of Belton, MO; sisters, Gloria Mitchell of Harrisonville, Mo, Betty Shortt and Wanda Halstead of Topeka.

She is survived by her husband James of Rossville, Kansas; daughter, Lisa Ann Rath  and husband Gary; sister-in-law, Joy Barkley; grandchildren, Cody, Chase, Destiny, Daisy, Jeremy, Josie (James Vincent), Jessie (wife, Megan) and Chelsea (Nick Thomas); great grandchildren, Hunter, Hazel, Jonah, Sofia, Ellison, Emmalee, Sammy and Zack; and many nieces and nephews.

A Graveside Service will be held at Rochester Cemetery on Tuesday, May 30th, at 10:30am.