Linda Louise Barker
Wednesday, December 14, 2005 1:10 PM PST
July 22, 1947-Dec. 12, 2005
Fruitland
Linda Louise Barker, 58, Fruitland, died at home with her family by her side on the morning of Dec. 12, 2005, following a lengthy fight with cancer. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2005, at The Fruitland Olde School Auditorium with Pastor Emeritus Earl Traughber officiating. Burial will follow at Riverside Cemetery where Linda will be buried next to her mother and father. A visitation for family and friends will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2005, at Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Fruitland. Arrangements are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Fruitland.
She was born on July 22, 1947, in Ontario, to Dorothy and Derald Miesbach. Linda attended Fruitland grade school, junior high and high school were she graduated in 1965.
She married her high school sweetheart, Donald Barker, on April 16, 1966. After marriage they moved to Anderson's Corner near Nyssa where their daughter Rebecca arrived. A year and a half later they moved to a home on Enterprise Ave., outside of Nyssa were they lived for two years. They then moved to the New Plymouth area were they welcomed their son Jeff. In 1970 they built and moved into their current home in Fruitland.
Linda's most important job throughout her life was that of wife, mother, sister, and grandma. Other jobs have been sugar beet truck driver, Fruitland school bus driver, Fruitland elementary teachers aid for 14 years and she was currently working at Three Rivers Agency were she had been for the past 22 years.
Linda was a woman of great strength, courage and conviction. A leader of her family in every sense of the word. She was also a strong guiding hand in the lives of her friends and co-workers. She was a woman who didn't ask much for herself but wanted everything for her family, friends and especially her grandchildren. There was never a time when her family couldn't count on her to give the right nudge or advice when there was a time of need. Her guidance will be sorely missed.
Those who knew Linda will never forget her cooking. There were many times when friends and family would show up at the house just for her biscuits and gravy breakfast. Things such as her chicken noodles, applesauce, dinner rolls, mandarin chicken, her divinity and sugar cookies could make people's mouth water. One of her cardinal rules was never to go to an event without enough food for twice her group. She always brought more than was needed and nobody went hungry when she was around.
Linda was also an accomplished seamstress. Her weekly shopping trips to Boise usually involved a stop at the fabric store to pick up supplies for her newest project for her grandchildren. Her family was never in need of a new quilt, pants hemming, or pillow cases with sock monkeys on them.
Linda is survived by her husband, Donald G. Barker, Fruitland; her son, Jeffrey Barker, Seattle, Wash.; her daughter, Rebecca and son-in-law Patrick and their three children, Charles, Amanda and Lori, The Dalles, Ore. She is further survived by her younger brother Robert Miesbach, Boise and her younger sister, Sherylin (Miesbach) Sampson and her husband Jim Sampson, Forest, Ohio. She is also survived by her aunt, Elaine House, Fruitland; and nieces, nephews, other relatives and many, many close friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Dorothy and Derald Miesbach.
Memorials can be made to The Church of the Brethren in Fruitland, in care of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, Idaho 83661.
