Joyce (Shaffer) Barkley

Joyce Shaffer Barkley, 85, of Manns Choice, Pennsylvania, passed away peacefully at home on February 21, 2023, with her family by her side.  The oldest of eight kids, she was born at home on the family farm in Schellsburg, Pennsylvania, on March 9, 1937, the daughter of Nelson and Laverne (Miller) Shaffer.

On December 20, 1963, she married Richard “Dick” Barkley.  They were married for almost fifty-nine years until his death in September 2022.  In addition to Dick, Joyce was preceded in death by her parents and youngest sister, Carol Shaffer (husband Larry).  She is survived by her son, Brian Barkley, and friend Barb Falvey; her daughter, Beth, wife of Mark Schwanekamp; granddaughters, Meghan, Kayla and Heidi Barkley; grandson, Cooper Schwanekamp, and the following brothers and sisters:  Donna Soliday (husband Dave), Tom Shaffer (wife Sandra), Barry Shaffer (wife Marsha), Linda Shaffer, Lorna Shaffer and Perry Shaffer (wife Beverly).

Joyce’s family was her life.  She loved her close-knit family and was especially proud of her kids and grandkids and being an integral part of their lives.  She was a wonderful homemaker and gardener.  She kept beautiful flower beds and took daily pleasure in feeding and watching the endless number of birds that visited her feeders.  She loved to travel, too.  She and Dick enjoyed many Bollman’s trips with friends, as well as trips to Myrtle Beach, Canada and Europe.

Her love of children, and natural and effortless way of teaching, were evident through her career as a schoolteacher.  After graduating from Asbury University in Wilmore, KY, she taught at both Manns Choice Elementary School and Bedford Intermediate School for more than thirty years.  She and Dick were lifelong members of Buffalo Mills United Methodist Church, during which time Joyce was active with the Ladies group, the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child box collection, annual blood drives, and many other activities.  Her church family was also a very important part of her life.

Joyce walked each day in faith, and wholeheartedly believed in prayer and its power.  She will forever be remembered as a strong Christian, loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, teacher, role model, mentor and friend.

Visiting hours will be from 3pm - 7pm on Thursday, February 23, at Buffalo Mills United Methodist Church.  The funeral service will be on Friday, February 24, at 11am with a visitation hour starting at 10am.  Pastor Kendra Balliet will officiate.  Interment will be immediately following the service at Milligans Cove Cemetery, Buffalo Mills, PA.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joyce’s honor can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959 and Buffalo Mills United Methodist Church, c/o Donna Zimmerman, 7573 Hyndman Road, Buffalo Mills, PA 15534.

Joyce’s family would like to thank the wonderful medical teams from Hillman Cancer Center in Altoona and Grane Hospice Care.

Online condolences may be expressed at http://www.geiselfuneral.com/. Arrangements entrusted to Mickle-Geisel Funeral Home, Schellsburg, Pennsylvania.