Barbara Lizette Bakley

Barbara Lizette Bakley, beloved mother, sister, and fearless entrepreneur, passed away on April 14, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was 71 years old.

Born on August 22, 1953, in Cleveland, Ohio, Barbara was a force of nature — known to most as “Mom,” especially to her children, Daniel and Heather Bakley, and to many of their friends who were lucky enough to be welcomed into her orbit.

Barbara was a self-made woman, a trailblazer with unshakable determination and vision. In the mid-1980s, she founded an office supply chain across Southern California, building her business from the ground up as President and CEO. Her entrepreneurial drive never stopped — she later explored interior design, ran a video game shop in a local swap meet in the early ’90s, and after relocating to the Las Vegas Valley in 1994, she continued her ventures in real estate, coffee, and eventually became the proud owner of the original Tropicana Pizza in 1995.

She had a sharp mind for business, unmatched style, and an unrelenting work ethic. Her independence defined her — she never waited for permission and never leaned on others to get the job done. She gave everything she had to her children, making sure they never went without, and always trying to set them up for a better life.

Barbara is survived by her children, Heather and Daniel Bakley; their partners, Kevin Summers and Ian Hardeman, and her brother and sister-in-law, Rick Fox and Mardi Linane. We hope she is now reunited with those she held close in her heart — her beloved mother, Rose Stone; her best friend, Jay Feinstein; and her lost love, Stanley Bakley.

She was passionate, powerful, and poured all of herself into those she loved and the dreams she chased. Her legacy is one of grit, generosity, and a deep, unwavering love for her family.