Willie Francis Barkhurst, beloved mother, grandmother, sister, daughter and friend, joined her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in heaven on January 19th, 2013 at the age of 91.   Willie was born June 8th, 1921 in Gibsonville, N.C. to Charles and Louise Curtis, one of ten siblings and is survived by her sister, Edna Poole.

Willie was predeceased by her precious daughter, Lisa Louise (Shropshire) Merriman and two wonderful husbands, Lonnie Ray Shropshire and Stanley R. Barkhurst.   She worked as an assembler for Motorola for many years and was proud of her record of always reaching "quota" and doing her job well.    Willie loved her job at Motorola and also worked at a dry cleaners in Phoenix for many years.

Her special gift was loving people of all walks of life, income, race, color or creed but especially her desire to speak up for those who have no voice.   She expected all of us to do more for others than ourselves and to stand up and be counted.

Willie is survived by her children Suzanne (Larry) Swanson, Judy (Charles) Wood and Charles "Chaz" Shropshire, grandchildren Kelsey (Laurie) Swanson, Michael and Matthew (Amanda) Merriman, Lauren (Jonathon) Little , Paul Wood and one great grandchild at the time of her passing, Krista Rose Little.

Willie loved God, Jesus, her family and friends, a good book, laughter, movies and going out to eat and her passion was going shopping at the Dollar Store.   She also loved her home in Phoenix, was kind to strangers and made everyone of any race feel welcome and loved.

Willie will sorely be missed by all who knew her and everyone who came across her zest for life and living in the Valley of the Sun.