Betty Ruth Barker

Betty Ruth Barker, age 81, resident of Fort Scott, Kan., died Saturday, April 1, 2006, at Mercy Health Center. She was born Nov. 2, 1924, in Prescott, Kan., the daughter of Ira Oliver Anderson and Anna Louise Rainey Anderson. She married Alfred "Leon" Barker on July 12, 1941, in Nevada, Mo. He preceded her in death on Dec. 22, 1981.

Mrs. Barker was retired as filing clerk with the Western Insurance Company. She was a member of the First Church of God. Her hobbies included reading and crocheting.

Survivors include one daughter, Mary Elaine Allen, and husband, Larry, Fort Scott; two sons, Melvin Barker and wife, Marilyn, and Raymond Barker and wife, Marie, all of Fort Scott. Also surviving is a brother, Kenneth Eugene Anderson, Drexel, Mo.; a sister, Virginia Louise Finley, Hume, Mo.; eight grandchildren, Mark Barker and wife Renea, Ankeny, Iowa, Paul Barker and wife Tammy, Peculiar, Mo., Ruthann Barker, Fort Scott, Dr. Michael Barker and wife Rachelle, Spokane, Mo., Mitch Barker and wife, Kim, Fort Scott, Jason Allen and wife, Dana, Fort Scott, Darlinda Harris and husband, Chuck, Firth, Neb., and Jeff Allen and wife Tara, Fort Scott; and 14 great-grandchildren, Ethan Barker, Ellie Barker, Adam Barker, Hope Barker, A.J. Watts, Kaitlin Barker, Gabrielle Allen, Marissa Allen, Julia Allen, Kolby Harris, Karlea Harris, Karson Harris, Alaina Allen and Parker Allen. In addition to her husband., she was preceded in death by seven brothers, two infant brothers, Ray Lee Anderson and Lee Roy Anderson, and Clarence Anderson Jr., Merle Anderson, Willie Anderson, Jessie "Bus" Anderson and Charles Anderson; and two sisters Irene Caskey and Ruby Billingsley.

Bill Smith, assisted by the Rev. Phillip Wilson, conducted funeral services at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, April, 4, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. Burial followed in Hume Cemetery, Hume, Mo. Memorials are suggested to either American Heart Association or the Diabetes Foundation and may be sent to Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, Fort Scott, KS 66701.