Joyce S. (Stearns) Barney

JOYCE STEARNS BARNEY April 18, 1924 – February 4, 2020 Frances Joyce Stearns Barney passed away February 4, 2020 surrounded by her loving family. Joyce’s family was her proudest accomplishment. She delighted in her four children, nine grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren. Joyce was born on April 18, 1924, in Prineville, Oregon to Harry & Crystal Stearns. Joyce’s family operated a cattle ranch on the Upper Crooked River which was homesteaded by her grandparents, Sidney and Frances Stearns. She grew up on the ranch with her parents, sisters Shirley and Ann, two grandmothers, a number of uncles, twin aunts and cousins. She attended Crook County High School, graduating in the Class of 1942. She also attended Oregon State College (now OSU) and because of her lifelong love of learning, at the age of 70, she went back to college and attended University of Oregon. Early in her life Joyce was raising four children on her own and worked various jobs to provide for her family. She worked as a bookkeeper for various businesses, at a bank, Oregon Stationary and the Bureau of Land Management. When her father died, Joyce was tasked with overseeing the ranch, becoming broker at Timberline Taylor Real Estate in Bend and continuing to manage the family partnership until her late 80s. She enjoyed traveling the world. She was bitten by the travel bug after her first trip visiting her son, Steve, in Japan. She continued traveling both alone and with her sister Ann, who was a travel agent. She kept a world map on the wall in her house and put pins in all the places she visited, over 161 places both domestic and international. Often when her children had not known about her next adventure she would jokingly say “Oh didn’t I tell you?” She loved to take classes to learn about world cultures by staying at Elderhostels, tents in the desert and with local families in whatever country she was visiting. Joyce was an enthusiastic cross-country skier, she enjoyed downhill skiing, bicycling, hiking, bridge, church choir, opera, theater, symphonies, jazz festivals, sewing, pottery, painting, especially watercolors. She was physically active and worked out at her daughter Sharon’s athletic club until after her 95th birthday. Her longtime family friend, Ethel Conway said of Joyce “she started out in the morning bursting with energy, she ran and skipped through the day until put to bed at night.” She is survived by her four children, Steve and (Bonnie) Barney, Robyn Craig, Brian and (Laura) Barney, Sharon and (Jim) McPhetridge, 9 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren, her sister Ann Ramseyer-Kapelke, nieces, nephews and cousins who all feel blessed to have her as our Mother, Gram, GiGi and Auntie. Our love, hopes and thoughts are with all those who had the good fortune of interacting with such a dynamic driving force within our family, community and the inspiration and grace she instilled within all those she touched. Truly a pioneer within the industry she chose and the family she loved. A Celebration of Life will be held February 15, 2020 at Eastside Church, 3174 NE 3rd Street, Prineville, at 2 o’clock p.m. followed by dessert and a time of fellowship. Remembrances in Joyce’s honor may be made to the Crook County Historical Society or the Crook County Library. Please see Prineville Funeral Home's web page, www.prinevillefuneralhome.com, for service information updates and the link to leave messages for the family.

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