Jerry Barker was born on July 26, 1938 in Arkansas City, Kansas to William and Sue Barker. He passed on Thursday June 4, 2020 in Olathe, Kansas. Between those two dates he lived a full life, marrying Deba Barker (Weatherwax) in 1965, becoming a father to Kendra, Kelly, and Kyle, and a grandfather to Nate, Jon, Zora and Finn. He graduated from Emporia State Teacher’s College, and the University of Kansas, he spent his career in Social Work, working mainly for the State of Kansas. He sold insurance for a while and sold Organs (Wurlitzers) too. He drove a cab, always number 22 (which was his daughter’s birthday) and spent time in the Navy and the Kansas Army National Guard. He loved baseball and talking politics and baseball and baseball. He drank Budweiser and Old Crow. He liked to garden and fish. Once upon a time he even owned a couple of hunting dogs named Buck and Rebel. He loved to play endless games of Cribbage with his twin brother Harold, and played a mean game of Dominoes. He saw every playoff game the Kansas City Royals have played in and reveled every March in the success of the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team. He had finished chemo and was recovering at home as the Chiefs won the Super Bowl. He taught his kids the rules of baseball, how to tell a rookie card from a mid season insert, how to keep score on a scorecard and to study and work hard. He went to as many games and dance performances as he could and was filled with pride for his grandchildren. In short, his was a long, good life. He will be missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Sue Barker, his brothers, Craig and Harold, and his sister Mary Sue. His son Kyle passed in 2007.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Deba, his daughter Kendra Jenkins, his son-in-law Ed, his son Kelly Barker, his daughter-in-law Danielle, his grandchildren Nate LaVoie and wife, Katie, Jon Jenkins, Zora Lotton-Barker, and Finn Lotton-Barker.

He will be cremated and interred at Resthaven Cemetery in Wichita, Kansas.