Jennie Leopa “Lopie” Barley, 78, Marion, went to be with her Lord and Savior in her home at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, July 9, 2018. A lifelong resident of Grant County, Lopie was born in Marion on February 24, 1940, to the late Natale and Eva (Harrison) Pavone.
On July 7, 1957, Lopie married David Barley, and they had two children, David Barley, Jr., and Stephanie McMurray. Lopie served her family as a homemaker and made it a place where everyone always felt welcomed and looked forward to being together for family gatherings. Christmas was Lopie’s favorite holiday and, being known for her Italian cooking, she made it a tradition to cook Italian food for Christmas each year. She continued to share her Italian cooking with her family in her later years as well.
She dearly loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who were her pride and joy. She had a very special relationship with her granddaughter, Amanda, who was also one of her primary caregivers and spent many special moments together running around and spending time at home.
Everyone knew how much Lopie loved to shop. She was a “professional” shopper and never missed an opportunity to be on the look-out for a good pair of shoes or a purse. She was straight-forward, and she knew what she liked and what she didn’t.
Above all, Lopie loved the Lord and her church. She also loved her pastor and his wife, with whom she shared a very special relationship. There will be a void in many lives for a long time to come because of the impact Lopie had on others.
She will be dearly missed by her husband, David, with whom she just celebrated 61 years of marriage; son, David (Shelly) Barley, Jr., Manila, Arkansas; daughter, Stephanie (Rev. Lee) McMurray, Marion; granddaughter, Amanda Barley, Sweetser; grandsons, Captain Micah Chad (Courtney) Barley, Fort Hood, Texas, Justin Barley, Manila, Arkansas, Tyler Barley, Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Daniel McMurray, Marion; great-grandchildren, Tristen Hayes and Isley Hayes, both from Sweetser; brother, Mose (Bonnie) Pavone, Jonesboro; sisters, Carrie (George) Hamby, Marion, and Genovieve Pavone, Piketon, Ohio; special niece, Pam Rickman; many other nieces and nephews; and lifelong family friend and caregiver, Sarah Kling.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her grandson-in-law, Joel Hayes; sisters, Genovieve Pavone, Nancy Kelley, Betty Guerin, Mabel Grant, and LaNarda Gordon; and brother, Phil Pavone.
The family will receive visitors from 4 to 8 p.m. on Friday, July 13, 2018, at Needham-Storey-Wampner Funeral Service, North Chapel, 1341 N. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN.
Services to celebrate Lopie’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 14, 2018, at First Pentecostal Church, 1116 S. Pennsylvania St., Marion, IN. Pastor Darrin Williams will be officiating with entombment following at Grant Memorial Park.
A special thank you to Family Life Care Hospice and Linda Kellogg for their wonderful care and compassion for Lopie.
Memorial contributions may be directed to First Pentecostal Church, 1116 S. Pennsylvania St., Marion, IN 46953 or Family Life Care Hospice, 705 S. Baldwin Ave., Marion, IN 46953.
Online condolences may be made at www.nswcares.com.