This new page will feature a different resident of April Cove every so often. 

Our first resident to be featured is Steve Barkley, President of the April Cove Maintenance Fund, Inc. 

Steve Barkley was born in Memphis, and he jokes that Elvis was a neighbor, since they both lived in the suburb of Whitehaven. Steve had a happy childhood with a stay at home mother and a railroad engineer dad, 2 brothers and 1 sister.  He has stayed in touch with many of his childhood friends from his years in Whitehaven.   

Steve began working early, mowing lawns as a kid.  He still enjoys it, and that gift is currently appreciated by members of April Cove since Steve is the “mowing guy.”   By the time Steve graduated from high school, he had begun his first job as a locomotive engineer, and he continued this full time work while attending college for the next 7 years at the University of Memphis. He had no college debt when he graduated!  After he received his degree in Civil Engineering, he accepted a job from Union Pacific Railroad in their management program.  

Shortly after graduation Steve met Susan one evening at a local disco (think 1980). She was with a group of emergency room nurse friends that were talking to one of Steve’s friends.  They had a brief courtship and married the same year.

Over the course of his career with Union Pacific Railroad, Steve relocated often to different areas of the country, including California, Texas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Arkansas.   

Steve’s last job with Union Pacific Railroad was in Omaha, Nebraska, as Vice President of Network Operations.  He was responsible for running the Harriman Dispatching Center, which controls rail operations over the Union Pacific system.  In 2007, he began thinking of retirement and where he might go.  He was advised by a wise daughter that people with a lake house were exceedingly popular, which planted the seed for finding a lake house for those retirement years and hopefully grandbabies.  Hence, Richland Chambers Lake, and a beautiful place called April Cove.  Steve retired in 2012, and has been here since.

Family members include Russell who is self employed and lives in Willis.  Rachel is an attorney, married to Howard Mayne, a real estate developer, and they have 2 sons, Will and Hudson. Rebecca is a civil engineer like her father. Everybody is in the Houston area.

Life is still busy, but Steve’s railroad work is limited to a garden railroad in the back yard. Steve has served as president of the April Cove HOA for 6 years and recently finished a year as president of the Southside Anglers, aka Fish Club.  He joined the Southern Oaks Volunteer Fire Department, and the grandsons are quite impressed that Pop-o might be driving a fire truck.  Steve continues to enjoy traveling, fishing, sailing and golfing in his spare time.  He’s taken up smoking with his wife’s approval…… smoking Memphis style pork barbecue of course !!!!   

 Steve Barkley