By Town of Queen Creek
It is with deep sadness that the Town shares the passing of Queen Creek Mayor Gail Barney. He passed away last night at the age of 74 after battling a lung infection for several months. Mayor Barney dedicated his life to service, his family, and the success of the Queen Creek community.
Mayor Barney was nearly a life-long resident of Queen Creek, moving from Safford Arizona when he was just six months old in 1948. He grew up on his family farm and continued to farm in Queen Creek for many years, which is how he got involved in local government. Mayor Barney often shared he was having trouble crossing Germann Road on his tractor, so he got involved and never looked back. He served on the Queen Creek Planning & Zoning Commission from 1998 to 2002, when he was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Town Council. He served as a council member until the was elected Mayor in 2010.
Serving 20 years on the council, Mayor Barney was instrumental in many of the Town’s milestones. From opening Ellsworth Loop, to starting a fire department and providing municipal water services, Mayor Barney assisted the council with strategic decisions that helped propel the community forward. Under his leadership as Mayor, the Town continued to make strategic advancements becoming the first municipality with a full funded pension system, and recently the launch of the Queen Creek Police Department.
Mayor Barney was known for saying it is the people that make Queen Creek so special – taking time to get to know one another and look out for each other. He shared his greatest influences were his parents, local school leaders and the founding families who helped shape the community that was so near to his heart. Mayor Barney embodied what it meant to be QC neighborly – while his years of leadership and dedication will leave a legacy in the Queen Creek community – he will be sincerely missed.
Mayor Barney is survived by his wife Pam, three children, 16 grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Details about services or remembrances will be shared when they are available.
As provided under the Town Code and policies and procedures, Vice Mayor Brown will continue to perform the duties as Mayor.
“Mayor Barney is such a caring, optimistic, energetic leader whose heart was all in for Queen Creek. He made everyone he talked to feel like they were the most important person on earth. He literally cared for all people with every pore of his being. Being around Mayor Barney made you feel happy as you could tell he always wanted the best for you. Everyone will miss the Mayor. “
-Jordan Rose, Rose Law Group Founder and President
