Barbara Ann Barker

Barbara Ann Barker was born December 10, 1931, to Don and Bertha Salyer in Cement, OK. Barbara was called to meet the Lord April 3, 2024.

Barbara is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Wayne, her brother Glen Salyer, her grandparents, and many aunts and uncles and cousins.

Barbara is survived by her son Jerry (Adela), of Corpus Christi, daughter Karen (Brady) Baker, of Pearland, TX, granddaughter Jessica Fearn (Daniel), of Corpus Christi, grandson Douglas of Orlando, FL,  one Great-Granddaughter, Lindsey Rene Fearn, brother Larry (Elizabeth) Salyer of Midland, TX, sister-in-law Edna Salyer of Freeport, TX, and several nieces and nephews.

Barbara loved her family and enjoyed whatever time they could be together.

Barbara graduated from Cement High School in 1949 as the class Valedictorian.  A friend said if the class hadn’t been small, she wouldn’t have had a chance.  (Only teasing of course.) 

Barbara started her career as a soda fountain attendant at the Central Drug in Cement, OK, when she was 14 yrs. old. Since she wasn’t tall enough to reach the counter or dip the ice cream, the owner put a Coke crate down for her to stand on. Friends and family had lots of fun teasing her about that.

Barbara went to Oklahoma City to study at Draughon’s School of Business after she graduated from Cement High School.

Barbara worked as a Drafting person for Southwestern Bell while going to Draughon’s. After she graduated from Draughon’s, she worked at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City in the Finance Department.

While living in Oklahoma City at the YWCA, Barbara traveled to Cement on weekends. 

Barbara went to First Baptist Church in Cement with her parents when she was home on weekends. Barbara and Wayne Barker got reacquainted in church and Wayne started taking her back to Oklahoma City on Sunday nights. Romance blossomed as the two spent more time together. They married in 1953. She was a remarkable wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Barbara and Wayne were members of Parkdale Baptist for more than 20 years and she was a long-time member of Second Baptist Church. In her younger years, Barbara was active as a teacher in Sunday School and an active choir member.

Barbara worked as a church secretary, secretary for several oil companies, and also worked at Avant Dance Studio as bookkeeper for several years before she retired to join Wayne, who had been retired several years.

The family would like to thank all of the staff at Serenity & Grace Hospice Care for their amazing work making her last days better, especially Tiffany, Lisa, and Christy. Thanks also to Jenessa and Sunni for their tender care, and Our Graceful Home and staff, Rome, Rebecca, and Tonya.

There will be a visitation on Monday, April 8 at 12:30 p.m. followed by a Celebration of Life at 1:30 p.m. Both will be at Seaside Funeral Home’s Reid Chapel.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.