Noble Gene Barker

Noble Gene Barker, son of the late Noble Alexander and Grace (Alsup) Barker, was born October 19, 1923, in Mountain Grove, Missouri, and passed away November 24, 2017, at Autumn Oaks Caring Center in Mountain Grove. He was 94 years, one month, and 5 days of age.

Noble grew up in the Prior, Missouri, community. He graduated from Mountain Grove High School and married his sweetheart, Susan Inez Harrison, on August 29, 1942. They were married by Rev. George Walter at his home in Owensville near Hartville, Missouri. Rev. George’s daughter, Lacy, was one of the witnesses. Lacy later married Inez’s brother, Roy Harrison. Noble and Inez had three children: Rita, Noble Gene Jr., and Thomas C.

Noble attended the University of Missouri in Rolla and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering. He went on to receive his Master’s Degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois. Noble worked for Caterpillar, Inc. as a Research Engineer in Peoria for twenty years. After retirement, he and Inez moved to Ozark County, Missouri.

Noble greatly enjoyed hunting, fishing, and working on his farm. He also enjoyed spending time researching his ancestry. He had traced his family back to the Colonial Era in England. Noble was very proud of his family and his family’s heritage. He was a wonderful husband, son, father, and grandfather. His family and friends will greatly miss him.

Besides his parents, Noble was preceded in death by one son, Noble Gene Barker, Jr. in 2011, and one brother, Jack Barker.

He is survived by his wife, Inez Barker, one son, Thomas C. Barker and his wife, Leila (Vallejo) Barker, of Drury, Missouri, one daughter, Rita Longmar of Anchor Point, Alaska, one daughter-in-law, Nancy (Jones) Barker of Drury, Missouri, one brother, Tim Barker of Springfield, Missouri, two sisters, Ella Nease of St. Louis, Missouri, and Beverly Pritchett of Springfield, Missouri, one sister-in-law, Nancy (Harpool) Barker of Springfield, Missouri, seven grandchildren, nine great-grandsons, and many other relatives, church family, neighbors, and friends.