Barbara Mayes Buckley

Barbara Mayes Buckley, born on September 23, 1945, died peacefully on the evening of February 26, 2026 surrounded by her children. She was 80 years old.

Barbara grew up in Courtland, CA in the beautiful Sacramento River Delta area.

She married the love of her life, Jim Buckley, on St Patrick’s Day in 1978. Together they lived and raised five children on their Sutter Island pear ranch. They were soulmates and lived a wonderful life together until Jim’s passing in 2014. She would say her greatest accomplishment by far was raising five children whom all became successful, hard-working adults.

As a young girl from a farming family, she fell in love with horses and spent many days riding through the fields and orchards on her family ranch. She became a knowledgeable horse-woman and an excellent rider.

Barbara was very creative. From painting watercolors as a child to becoming an expert on floral design, gardening, baking and antiquing. She took pride in her perennial garden and had an impressive knowledge of plants and flowers. She was an excellent baker – with magnificent cakes to amazingly delicious cookies.

She loved antiques and was skilled at finding unique treasures. Some of her favorite days were spent with Jim antiquing together.

Gift giving was also a specialty of hers. Her family and friends always received the most thoughtful and amazing gifts that were beautifully wrapped. She never missed a birthday, holiday or milestone moment. Christmas with Barbara was nothing short of spectacular.

Although family always came first to Barbara, she made it a priority to be involved in her community. She dedicated many years to 4-H and Delta High School’s Future Farmers of America program. She was the 4-H sheep leader and she helped her children and many others raise sheep, cattle and hogs for the county fairs. You could count on her to come to the rescue when anyone had a sick animal who needed tending to.

Barbara was a remarkable, resilient woman. She was friendly, hard-working and incredibly generous. She has left an imprint on our hearts and will be deeply missed. And now, she and Jim are reunited again hand in hand, heart to heart for eternity.

She is survived by her five children Wendy Buckley, Marcee Yount, Amy Briggs (Jonathan), Katie Waters, Jimmy Buckley (Debbie) and her seven grandchildren, Austin (Dana), Jake (Chloe), Elainee (Chase), Julie, Maddie, Spencer, Vivee and one great granddaughter, Amelia.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Hospice of San Joaquin County in Stockton or to Project R.I.D.E. in Elk Grove.

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