Ms. Barbara Owen Goerke

Barbara Owen Goerke passed away on July 21, 2020 in Tallahassee, Florida, at the age of 86. She was born on February 16, 1934, in Brownstown, Indiana, to parents William Owen and Mary Anna Yancey. Although she was born in Indiana, she called Royal Oak, Michigan home. Many happy summers were also spent visiting family in La Center, Kentucky. Barbara is survived by her daughters, Lynn McWilliams (Todd), Jill Leach (Fred), and son, Kurt Goerke (Beth); grandchildren, Andrew and Kelsey McWilliams, Fredrick, Alex, and Terence Leach (Jordan), Mitchell and Nicholas Goerke; her first great-grandchild, Miles Leach; and brother, Terry Owen. She worked many years for the Florida Department of Education, serving in numerous positions over the course of her career. Barbara received numerous performance awards throughout her tenure. In her retirement she volunteered for Ability 1st and Riley Elementary School where she was twice named the Leon County Senior Volunteer of the Year. Barbara will be forever remembered for her passion of giving to others, keeping her commitments, and her unwavering integrity. She was a talented cook and hostess with a quick wit and great sense of humor. She also enjoyed many hobbies including sewing, arts and crafts projects and floral arranging. She was a patron of the arts and spent many happy evenings enjoying excellent performances at FSU School of Theatre, Theatre Tallahassee, as well as an occasional Broadway show. Gigi, as she was known to her seven grandchildren, will be greatly missed by all but remembered as a grandmother who always had a cookie at the ready and a house decorated for the season including a Twelve Days of Christmas display that was well known and will be missed in her neighborhood. Her grandchildren were a great source of pride and happiness to her. She was also fortunate to have just become a Great-Grandmother for the first time in June of this year as the family celebrated and welcomed Miles Leach. Thank you to Terry and Jordan for getting that done on time! Barbara will be missed by many other groups and individuals including a luncheon group referred to as “The Divas” and her neighborhood “Friday Night Group”. Perhaps because she was transplanted from Michigan and had no immediate family in Tallahassee, she developed many relationships with families and friends that became as close as family and were considered family for all practical purposes. She cherished and was thankful for you all. (You know who you are)! Thank you all for sharing in her wonderful life. Her children send their grateful appreciation and love to you all. They will greatly miss her but are very thankful to have been able to call this wonderful woman mom.

Ms. Barbara Owen Goerke

February 16, 1934 - July 21, 2020