Barbara Hilda Mitchell Harkins was born in April 1962 at old Wheeler Hospital in Gilroy. She gently passed away at home among family in the town she loved, November 3rd, 2017.

Barbara lived in Gilroy her entire life. She was raised in a loving household and attended Glen View, Brownell, and Gilroy High School. For many years she proudly worked at stores around town including K-Mart, Max Club, Orchard Supply Hardware, and Home Depot. She was a hard working woman, and took great pride in everything she accomplished. She was a Disney-kid at heart, and loved to take trips down south to see her Mickey and Minnie. She was as soft and sweet as a person can be, yet had a mama bear instinct to protect and care for all those she loved. Like her Mom, she was a lifelong Giants baseball fan.

Barbara was married in April 1999 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Gilroy, and is survived by her husband John and daughter Emily, and her Aunt Mary Jane Espinoza of Gilroy; her Uncle Arthur Espinoza and his wife Dora of Fremont; and her in-laws Joan Harkins and Jim Harkins of Cotati, and Kathleen, David, Katie and Andrew Maki of Mantica. Preceding her in death is her mother Cecilia Espinoza Ramirez, her father Raul Ramirez, her grandmother Hilaria Espinoza, and her Nina Rosy Espinoza Ramirez.

A Memorial Mass for Barbara will be held 10:00 am, Saturday, November 25, 2017 at St. Mary Catholic Church Our Lady Chapel, Gilroy. Reception will follow at Serra Cottage, 7980 Church St. Gilroy. In lieu of flowers for Barbara, please donate to Friends of San Martin Animal Shelter. http://fosmas.org/donate.html.