Lyle Barker

Lyle George Barker was born on April 3, 1924 and passed away on March 20, 2018. Lyle was born in Jaroso, Colorado, the son of Joy and Ruth Barker. He was the fourth in what would become a family of ten children. Lyle lived in Jaroso, working on his parents’ potato farm until he attended Campion Academy where he graduated in 1943. After graduation, he attended Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he got his MRS degree, as it was there that he met his beloved wife, “Evie,” Evelyn June Prusia. Lyle and Evelyn were married on July 2, 1946 in Tekamah, Nebraska. After their marriage, Lyle farmed and Evelyn taught school. In 1947, they moved to a farm near Milford, Iowa, where their three sons---Guy, Bruce, and Gary---were born. In 1954 they moved to a farm near Liberal, Missouri, where they settled down for good. It was after they moved to Liberal that their daughter, Sherry, joined the family. Lyle earned a living as a farmer, but it’s his non-farming activities that his family remembers the most. Lyle was a devoted Christian and there was not a question about the Bible that could stump him. He could be found in church every Sabbath, in fact, just about the only time he wasn’t wearing his Key overalls was when he was at church! He loved to laugh and was always up for a good joke or prank. Evelyn was often the target of his pranks, but she never seemed to mind. Lyle was the world’s best grandpa and he loved his six granddaughters and two grandsons and never failed to show it. He took them on trips in his motor home and to Silver Dollar City, dressed up as Santa and delivered presents from his motorcycle, and brought them with him on ice cream runs to Baskin Robbins on the motorcycle. Lyle loved wheels of any sort---motocycles, cars, pickups, you name it, if it had wheels he loved it. After retirement, Lyle and Evelyn spent winters in warmer climates, beginning in Florida and later in California. During the winters, they lived in their motor home and learned new card and domino games that they eagerly shared with the grandkids when they returned to Liberal each spring. When at home, Lyle enjoyed spending time in his basement “bachelor pad” where he watched his favorite shows like In The Heat Of The Night, The Andy Griffith Show, and Gunsmoke and drank Mountain Dew. Lyle had a big personality and these memories of him are just the tip of the iceberg of all the things his family remembers about him. Lyle is survived by his wife, Evelyn; sons Guy Barker, Bruce (Leann) Barker, and Gary (Gwen) Barker; daughter Sherry (Mark) Christian, six granddaughters Julie Barker, Kristal Barker, Valerie Barker, Lindsey Ekrem, Kari Meadows, and Tracy Rudolph; two grandsons Brent Barker and Josh Christian: three great-granddaughters and two great-grandsons; brother Duane Barker; and sister Dora “Dodo” Lutz. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joy and Ruth Barker; brothers Merle, Max, David and Ted; sisters Charlotte, Helen “Honey,” and Peggy; and daughter-in-law Marilyn. Lyle was dearly loved and will be deeply missed. Service: 10:00AM Friday, March 23, 2018 at Konantz Warden Funeral Home Interment: Barton City Cemetery Donations in leiu of flowers are suggested to: Seventh Day Adventist Church c/o Ruth Coomer 430 E 21st St Pittsburg, KS 66762