Christine Barnes

Christine Marie Barnes, age 55, passed away suddenly on March 27,

2024. Chrissy was born on May 8, 1968, in Panorama City, California,

to Don and Arleen (Gocke) Forrest. Chrissy graduated from La Canada

High School in California in 1986. She went on to earn her Bachelor of

Arts degree in 1999 at Cal State Dominguez Hills in Long Beach,

California. After earning her teaching credential, she taught for the

Long Beach Unified School District for two years. She then married

Tyler Barnes, and her son Russell was born of that union. Chrissy was a

stay-at-home mom to Russell for several years. She then worked as a

nanny and as a secretary for Farmers Insurance. After Russell graduated

from high school and moved to San Luis Obispo to attend college,

Chrissy decided to move to Wickenburg in late 2022, to be closer to

family. She was a full-time substitute teacher at Vulture Peak Middle

School.

Chrissy was a caring and compassionate person who loved her son first

and foremost, and had a very tender heart for animals of all kinds, except

for the tarantula that invaded her home not long after she moved in.

Even then she made sure it was safely relocated. She enjoyed anything

having to do with crafts. She was artistic and creative. She was also a

true California girl who loved sitting on the beach and reading a good

mystery and watching Russell surf.

Chrissy was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents and

her uncle James Gocke. She is survived by her son Russell

Anthony Barnes of Long Beach, California; her mother Arleen

Younkman and stepfather John of Wickenburg; father Don Forrest

and stepmother Heidi of Long Beach, California; sister Debora

Berner of Wickenburg; aunt Kathleen Gocke of Buckeye; cousins

Joanna Netzke of Kona, Hawaii, and Kimmy Krost of Whitefish,

Montana; stepchildren Tommy and Tatum of Long Beach; and her

fur babies Boo and Bella.

There will be a commemorative get together at her father's home

in Long Beach, CA in remembrance of Chrissy.