Gloria Jean Barraza Eyerly

Gloria Jean Barraza Eyerly peacefully left this Earth in the early hours of March 19, 2019 at home in Salt Lake City, UT surrounded by the love of her husband of 52 years, Robert M. Eyerly, their two daughters M. Rene Eyerly and Karen Elizabeth Eyerly, grandson Luka Eyerly, and her three cherished kitties – Gabby, Coco, and Blue. Born on September 19, 1947 in Bakersfield, CA to Alice Lozano Barraza and Joseph Sepulvida Barraza, Gloria joined the U.S. Navy at age 17 and was stationed at Pax River Naval Air Station in MD where she met her husband, Bob. She is a Vietnam-era veteran who received an honorable discharge in 1967.
Gloria and Bob raised their family in Maryland before settling in Myrtle Beach, SC where they lived most of their life together. Bob and Gloria relocated to Salt Lake City, UT in 2007 following the birth of Karen’s son, Luka. She worked many jobs, but none came close to her role as wife and mother and the importance she placed on family, love, and friendship. Gloria Jean was a gifted artist who filled their home with beauty, music, and laughter. She enjoyed walks on the beach, riding horses with her daughter Rene’ and spending time with them at the barn, painting and spending time with Luka, traveling through the southwest with Bob, gardening, birding with Karen, collecting seashells, listening to Dwight Yoakam, and caring for the many furry and feathered friends that crossed her path.
Her love and memory will live on with her family and friends including her brothers Danny, Nick, Steve, and Joe Barraza along with their spouses and children.
Those that left this Earth prior to Gloria include both of her parents, her sister Rita Smith, brother-in-law Ray Smith, sister-in-law Carol Barraza, and many cherished furry companions.
The family would like to thank Encompass Hospice providers Heidi, Brandon, Logan, Ollie, and Marie for their love and support of Gloria over the last two months and the physicians, caregivers, and support staff from the Veterans Administration Hospital Oncology Department and Huntsman Cancer Center – Sara Colonna, M.D., Elise Dzintars, PA, Nina, Nina from pharmacy, and many others who made this difficult experience as comfortable, dignified, and joyful as possible.
Bob, Rene’, Karen, and Luka are forever grateful to Bobby Poole and Amanda Thomason for their overwhelming love,  kindness, and generosity throughout this journey. As was Gloria.