Raymond Levi Barker Obit

© Cheyenne Star

Submitted by: Wanda Purcell

Funeral services for Raymond Levi Barker, 65, were scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at Dimond and Sons Tucker Chapel. Visitation hours were from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Dimond and Sons Tucker Chapel.

Dow Wilson officiated with burial in Mountain View Cemetery.

Mr. Barker died April 27, 1990 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Prescott at the age of 65 years and 2 months.

He was born February 21, 1925 on a farm near Rankin, Oklahoma.

Raymond and Mildred Wiley were married February 8, 1947 at Wheeler, Texas. To this union were born four children all who preceded him in death, dying in infancy.

Mr. Barker came to Truxton in 1954.

A restaurant owner, Mr. Barker was involved with Future Farmers of American and 4-H, the school board and the fire department. He also served on the advisory board for the Hualapai Tribe and was vice president and founding member of the historic Route 66 Association.

Mr. Barker was in the Marine Corps during World War II and served in the South Pacific and China. He was awarded a medal for service as such.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Byers of Truxton; his wife, Mildred Barker of Truxton; daughter, Sue Harger of Seligman; and three grand children Rhonda, Levi and Kevin Esquerra and a host of relatives and friends.

He has a horse that also survives him.

Mr. Barker was preceded in death by four children.

Interment was at Mountain View Cemetery in Kingman.

His family especially remembers Ray as a loving son {his parents} and his wife Mildred as well as his grandchildren. In my personal contact with the Barkers it was always a joy to see four generations in close quarters as they operate the Truxton Cafe, Raymond acting as father to those grandchildren it appeared.

His family expressed and manifested that there was a great deal of compassion and comparability in the family. Mildred expressed a factual and honest appraisal of the marriage... she said it was a good marriage.

Raymond was a civic minded person. He helped establish the water company and the fire district in his community at Truxton. He actively supported the youth programs of the 4H clubs and the Future Farmers of America and their programs for many years. Raymond was an exemplication that "You cannot get the country out of a boy...though he gets out of the county." He was in a sense still a rural man.

In more recent years he was instrumental in establishing the Arizona Historic Route 66. He also worked to help establish the Hualapai Indian's project Grand Canyon West.

They speak of Raymond being a man who would listen to people's troubles and people of the community felt they could confide in him.

Raymond and Mildred have been in business in the Truxton community for 32 years.

Raymond was of such character that he loved all people and he had many friends from the Haulapai community, as well as the Supai people. Mildred speaks of some of their fondest memories when they carried the mail to the Supai people. They would bring their lunch to the hilltop and enjoy lunch together. Supai friends then would come by and see them at Truxton.

In the latter of last year a malady befell him that eventually claimed his life. He was not seriously ill, however until a few days before his passing. Knowing that the end was near, I am told that he did what he thought best to "set his house in order: for his earthly departure."

Mildred speaks kindly of Raymond's stay in the hospital and the visit of a Chaplain. He asked the Chaplain to pray for his well being.

A personal memory of my trip down in Muthweidica...offered to let me ride his horse. He watched the strugglers coming out.

He will be missed by all who knew him.

Relatives that attended the funeral were Arthur and Flo Barker; Gale Barker; Leora Sullenburger; Lucile Ward all of Sayre, Oklahoma; Relium and Ruth Hughes; Roy Barker of Reydon, Oklahoma; Creda Miller of Texola, Oklahoma; Jack Brown; Billie and Erma Lea Burns of Cheyenne, Oklahoma; Lovetta Jenkins and Susan Jenkins of Oklahoma City; Dana Stoll and Richard Tharp of Sweetwater, Oklahoma; Sandi Sickles of Los Alamas, New Mexico; and Lori Ruybal of Tyler, Casandra.

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