Pearl Madeline Barker

Pearl Madeline Barker, age 90, of Merlin, died August 17, 2015 at Three Rivers Medical Center.

Pearl was born November 11, 1924, in Ager, California to Manuel & Marion Shelley. She graduated from high school in Chico, California in 1942 and in 1943 entered the United States Cadet Nurse Corps at St. Mary’s Hospital in San Francisco. The Nurse Corps was the U.S. Government’s effort to ensure an adequate supply of nurses to care for U.S. Citizens at home and abroad during World War II.

On September 21, 1947, she married Luther “Bart” Barker in Berkeley, California. They lived in California until moving to Eugene, Oregon in 1951 to operate a fire extinguisher company, eventually settling in the Grants Pass area in 1955, raising their two children, Connie and Gary.

She was a homemaker and was the bookkeeper for their land development company, Barker Enterprises until the death of her husband in 2002. She enjoyed wildflowers, raising lilies, animals, her faithful dog Daisy, and following her granddaughter’s activities.

Survivors include a son, Gary Barker (Judy) of Grants Pass; a daughter, Connie Blanchard (John) of Merlin; a stepson, Dennis Barker-Duffy (Dorothy) of Sacramento, California; a stepdaughter, Linda Dawson of Portland; two sisters, Edith Chapin of Rocklin, California, Gloria Lewis (Paul) of Orland, California; 5 granddaughters, Denise Montgomery (Don) of Massachusetts, Jennifer Blanchard and Courtney Marsh (Phil) all of Las Vegas, Nevada, Melisa Barker of South Carolina, Mindy Wentworth (Chris) and Lisa Dawson all of Portland; and 5 great-grandchildren.

Pearl was preceded in death by her spouse, Luther “Bart” Barker; sister, Maisie McKoewn; and brothers, Dave Shelley, Pat Shelley and Richard “Bud” Shelley.

In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to Wildlife Images where she was an early volunteer, PO Box 36, Merlin, Oregon 97532 or any animal welfare group.

Private interment was held at Hillcrest Memorial Park in Grants Pass.

A celebration of life is planned for September 5, 2015 from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Call 541.476.1546 for information.