Noble Gene Barker Jr.
Drury, MO

Noble Gene Barker Jr., 66, of Drury, MO passed to heaven on September 25, 2011 at his residence. He was born July 21, 1945 in Douglas County, MO to Noble Gene Sr and Susan Inez (Harrison) Barker.

Noble Gene graduated from Pekin Community High School in 1963. He received his undergraduate degree from Iowa State University in 1967. He and Nancy Jones were united in marriage on February 26th of that same year. In 1981, he completed his Master's degree from the University of Missouri. He taught school at Dora and Mountain Grove and also taught a Veteran's class before starting his dairy farm. Along with the dairy, Noble Gene also opened a sawmill on the family farm in 1993. He stayed very active with all his duties, but none were more fulfilling than his duty of being a "family man." Noble Gene loved to make things for his grandchildren. He was very talented and creative with all his inventions. He also loved to sing. He sang in the quartet at church for many years. Noble Gene was a Christian and a member of the First Christian Church in Gainesville, MO. He was quite a character, and will be greatly missed by all.

Noble Gene is survived by his wife Nancy of the home in Drury, MO; his parents Noble and Inez Barker of Drury, MO; his three children Tom Barker and wife Deborah of Drury, David Barker of Bloomington, IL and Carrie Stewart and husband Michael of Ava, MO; four grandchildren Kyle and Caleb Barker, Ben and Bryce Stewart; one sister Rita Longmar of Yucaipa, CA; and one brother Tom Barker and wife Leila of Greeley, CO.

Funeral services for Noble Gene will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, September 28, 2011 in the First Christian Church, Gainesville, MO with Bobby Jo Wade officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday morning from 10 a.m. to service time at the church. Interment will be at 2:30 p.m. in the Hillcrest Cemetery in Mountain Grove, MO. On line condolences may be made to www.clinkingbeardfuneralhome.com.