The family of Queen Creek Mayor Gail Barney, who died June 22, will be livestreaming his funeral services. Barney, 74, died after battling a lung infection for several months.
Viewing and funeral …
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The family of Queen Creek Mayor Gail Barney, who died June 22, will be livestreaming his funeral services. Barney, 74, died after battling a lung infection for several months.
Viewing and funeral services for Barney will be held at the LDS Stake Center, 22035 E. Ocotillo Road. The viewing takes place Friday, July 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 9, starting at 10 a.m.
The viewing and funeral will be open to the public, said Constance Halonen-Wilson, communications and marketing manager for the town.
In addition, the Barney family has set up a YouTube channel to stream the services.
Barney was ending his tenure as mayor as he did not choose to run for another term.
Barney was nearly a life-long resident of Queen Creek, moving from Safford when he was just six months old in 1948. Barney spent 20 years on the town council where he played a significant role in the development of the town.
As council member and mayor, Barney helped achieve the opening Ellsworth Loop, starting a fire department and providing municipal water services. During his tenure as mayor, Barney presided over the town becoming the first municipality with a full funded pension system. He also helped to launch of the Queen Creek Police Department.
"He presided over some diverse and sometime contentious councils and issues,” said Mark Schnepf, owner Schnepf Farms, as well as a former Queen Creek mayor. “He did that with fairness and consistency.”
Vice Mayor Jeff Brown, who has been presiding over town council meetings while Barney was ill, said the late mayor had a wealth of knowledge about Queen Creek and its history.
“I am truly devastated by this loss not just for me personally but for the entire community of Queen Creek,” Smith said.
Barney was ending his tenure as mayor as he did not choose to run for another term.
Barney is survived by his wife, Pam, three children, 16 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Under the town code and policies and procedures, Brown will continue to perform the duties as mayor. Current Council Member Julia Wheatley is running unopposed for mayor.
Janet Perez News Editor | Florence &
Queen Creek @AzNewsmedia
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