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Memorial service for Jim Barker will be 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20, 2014, with the Rev. Ron Pingleton officiating. He was cremated at his request.
James M. "Jim" Barker was born in Alva, Okla., Jan. 11, 1939, to Elisha McKinley and Ruby Louisa (Branch) Barker and passed away Oct. 16, 2014, in Enid, at the age of 75 years, 10 months, and 5 days.
He grew up in Alva, living briefly in Watonga, Okla., where he spent his first two years of school.
He attended Alva Public Schools and graduated with the class of 1957. Many lifelong friendships were forged during that time.
His childhood was spent exploring his hometown with his brothers and sisters.
He also spent many hours fishing on the Nescatunga and local ponds. He and his brothers delivered the Alva Review Courier.
Throughout junior high and high school, he played baseball and football.
In junior high, he met the love of his life, Patty Taylor.
They began dating during their senior year of high school and were married July 26, 1958.
Jim attended college at Northwestern. He received his bachelor's degree in 1961 and his master's degree in 1969.
He taught school, coached and was a school administrator in Mancos, Colo.; Lamar, Colo.; Ogallala, Neb.; Cherokee, Okla.; and Elkhart, Kan.
Following their retirement from teaching, he and his wife, Patty, moved back to their hometown of Alva.
Not yet ready for the rocking chair, Jim took a job as sports information director for NWOSU.
He later worked as a sportswriter and photographer of the Alva Review Courier. He eventually was given the opportunity to pursue his love of writing and revived his father's Sports Spasms column.
Writing this popular column, he followed his dad's format, covering everything from local sports and history to fishing and wildlife conservation.
Occasionally, he reprised samples from E.M. Barker's original column. He had quite a following among the readership.
Jim served the National Guard for eight consecutive summers.
He was a member of Alva First Christian Church, serving as deacon, elder, and board member. His interests were many.
They included woodworking, fishing, traveling, genealogy, writing, art, history, science, and collecting everything.
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