Barbara Presley, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, caring mother, business women, and ardent Republican, passed away under the loving care of Madrone Hospice on April 5th at age 83 due to complications from a stroke suffered in May of last year.

Barbara was born in Stockton, California in 1928 to Harry and Bertha Baldwin. At age 21 she served as a Personnelman in the U.S. Navy in Norfolk, Virginia, working with some of the Navy's first computers. Honorably discharged in 1951, now a Navy wife married to Anthony Pacholski. Barbara tells a story of embarking on a troop transport ship with three babies, Richard, age 3, Susan, age 2, and Ron, age 6 months, en route to Ski's duty station in Naples, Italy. The ship's ladderways and the rough seas were not very accommodating to a mom with three kids in diapers. After returning to San Diego, a rough financial period followed a divorce, but Barbara was upbeat and determined to always make the next month better, taking on multiple work-at-home jobs and stretching the food dollar. She took a job as an Avon representative and was further blessed in ‘61 when she married a big Texan, John Presley, with two sons of his own, John Jr. and Dick. Hard work with Avon resulted in a career position in '63 as district manager, which she held until retirement in 1991. Barbara and John moved from Bonita to Yreka in 1995 and were a loving couple until John's passing in 2004.

Barbara is survived by all of the children, plus 13 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren, who are all grateful to A Touch of Home and Madrone Hospice for the comfort and love they provided to Barbara. At Barbara's request, there will be no funeral services.