Thomas W. Barker 1931-2020

The Tom Barker family would like to welcome you to this Memorial Site, lovingly created by his eldest son Kris and photos selected by the other 4 of the Barker family of six. When Dad died back in February, we were left with a giant hole in our lives and soon after, when the world shut down due to the global pandemic, we realized that it would be impossible to gather family and friends to honor the memory of our amazing Dad. We rallied around our Mom, Doris, and kept her close through the first few months as we all went through the grieving process, which continues on. Mom has been comforted by the many cards, phone calls and emails she received after Dad died, and she has kept those as a tribute to him. She especially enjoyed the 2 days family and friends joined us via Zoom to celebrate her 90 th birthday in May and we want to thank all who were able to join us.

We celebrated Dad’s life in several small but meaningful ways over the past months. We scattered some of his ashes at Betsy and Gary’s cabin on Black Lake, lighting a candle, sharing some tears and favorite memories, and enjoying the beauty around us. Our pastor led a beautiful ashes-spreading ceremony outside in the narthex garden at Tibbetts UMC, the church where Mom was raised, Dad and Mom were married, and where they raised us. Afterward, we gathered in Betsy and Gary’s back yard for lunch and more reminiscing. There are plans in the future to spread some more of Dad’s ashes at the WSU Survey Camp on White Pass along with our dear Barker cousins, children of his younger brother Dick who also died this year. The 3 Barker boys spent many of their childhood summers at Camp, while their Dad (our Grandpa Barker) taught Civil Engineering and their Mom (our Grandma Barker) led them on many hiking adventures. As the Barker kids were growing up we got to experience Camp, too, and have many wonderful memories of our own. We look forward to the time when we can all safely travel and gather together there in their memory.

We know that so many of you were also saddened by the fact that we were not able to hold a service for our Dad, and we want you to know you have all been in our thoughts so much over these past months as you too have been going through the grieving process. We hope this site will be a comfort to you; a place you can go to reflect on your own memories of Tom, and to leave some of your own thoughts in the Stories section. Please enjoy the slide show and music and if you’d like, leave a thought or memory of Tom – and please know how important you all are to us.