Roberta G. "Bobbie" Barkis

Roberta (Bobbie) Barkis born May 14, 1926 in Akron, Ohio to Mabel (Nichols) and Jim Ensor died August 21, 2019 after 93 years. She passed away at Village on the Isle, Luke Haven Skilled nursing in Venice, Fl. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 44 years, Tom Barkis, her parents, her first husband, Frank Timberlake, and her sister, Marjorie Lacey. Bobbie is survived by her children Michael (Terri Holland) Timberlake, Gregory (Julie) Timberlake, Sarah (Pete Moffat) Timberlake, and James (Cynthia) Timberlake; stepchildren Faith Sorenson, Tom (Diana) Barkis Jr., Mike (Lynn) Barkis; her sister-in-law JoAnn (Stanley) Theodosion; her former daughter-in-law Andrea Timberlake; and grandchildren Chance and Blaze Timberlake Moffat ; Benjamin, Matthew, Alec, Nathan, Renee and Meiyan Timberlake, Kathrine Timberlake Ford, Ryan Sorenson, Tara Jimenez, Brad , Alexis, Matt , Michael and Megan Barkis, and Michelle Cromer. She also leaves behind many adored great grandchildren and nieces and nephews. Bobbie grew up in the Goodyear Heights neighborhood of Akron and graduated from East High School before enrolling at Otterbein College and then entering nurses training. Required to leave nurses training in that era due to marriage and pregnancy, she turned to teacher's training, ultimately earning a Masters degree from Kent State University. Roberta taught elementary school for more than thirty years in Akron, Ohio at schools that included Betty Jane, McEbright, and Robinson. Her expertise included kindergarten, and the earlier grades, and she ended up with expertise as a reading specialist. She was a dedicated teacher, loved by many of her students who would stop her as young adults when they would happen to see her at a supermarket or other public venue to thank her for lessons learned and the care and concern that she had given them. Roberta was an accomplished ""recreational"" pianist, a skill useful as a kindergarten teacher and as a mother of children who became interested in instrumental music. She was also an avid quilter, and various family members are honored to have a lovely product of this labor of love over the back of a sofa, on a bed, or even on a wall. Piano playing and quilting became more difficult over the years as a result of the progressive effects of rheumatoid arthritis, an affliction that she endured with grace, never allowing the resulting pain and disability to dampen her expressive love for family and kindness to those around her. Roberta was an active member of the Venice Nokomis United Methodist Church. The family is grateful to many on the staff of the skilled nursing facility at Village on the Isle in Venice for their care of Roberta during her final few years. The family has scheduled a graveside service for Monday, August 26, 10:00AM at Jesse Knight Cemetery on Colonia Lane in Nokomis. Remembrances can be left on the Farley Funeral home website: www.farleyfuneralhomecom. Donations in Bobbie’s memory should be made to the Arthritis National Research Foundation at https://curearthritis.org. Service Information Date: Monday, August 26, 2019 Time: 10:00 am Jesse Knight Cemetery Address: Colonia Lane, , Nokomis, FL, 34275 | Map