Phyllis May Larue Barker
Phyllis May Larue Barker
Phyllis Barker passed peacefully into the loving arms of her
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, August 19, 2013 in Boise, after
complications from a recent stroke. Born
in Heyburn, Idaho on May 31, 1928 to Roy and Daisy Roberts LaRue, Phyllis graduated from Heyburn High School in
1946, and earned a degree in Home Economics from the University of Idaho in
1950, after living four years in Hays Hall and reigning (true to her middle name)
as U of I’s May Queen. She married her
college sweetheart, Glenn Barker, on August 13, 1950, and they honeymooned at
one of their favorite places in the world, Redfish Lake. They recently celebrated their 63rd anniversary. Glenn and Phyllis lived in Coulee Dam,
Washington before returning to Idaho in 1969, residing in Boise until her
death.
Phyllis touched many lives and was well known for her gift
of hospitality. An extra setting at the
Barker dinner table was a common occurrence as she and Glenn welcomed visitors into
their home for a night or two, developing many lifelong friendships by the time
dessert (chocolate, of course) was served.
She was also an accomplished seamstress, and many brides and bridesmaids
were rescued by a last minute alteration from Phyllis right before walking down
the aisle.
In addition to her devotion to Glenn, Phyllis was committed
to building relationships, especially within her family, neighborhood, P.E.O.
sisterhood and church community. She
surrendered her life to Christ at an early age, and continued to strengthen her
faith throughout her life by personal Bible study, prayer and consistent
fellowship with other believers. She and
Glenn were founding members of Boise Valley Christian Communion (now Discovery
Church) and attended Epworth Chapel on the Green for the past ten years.
Music was always an important part of her life, whether it
was playing the piano, singing with the family in the car on long road trips,
or enjoying community performances. She
shared her love of music with others from her college days with the Vandaleers,
to organizing and directing a church children’s choir, to performing with the
Whitney Women’s Chorale in her later years.
She had a special affinity for the great hymns of faith, and researched
the history of many hymns for a presentation during the Idaho Centennial
celebration.
Phyllis loved a good adventure - and she enjoyed traveling across
the country and around the world to visit old friends, make new ones, and
embrace different cultures. She lived up
to her motto of “you’re never too old to learn something new” by scuba diving
for the first time at the Great Barrier Reef in her 70s, and participating in 19
Elderhostel educational programs with Glenn, both in the US and abroad. Often, travel provided great fellowship opportunities,
as Phyllis and Glenn visited the Oregon Coast for fifteen consecutive years
with the same four couples, building deep and lasting friendships. Phyllis and Glenn also fostered a love for
travel within their family, as evidenced by each of their children living
internationally for a period of their adult lives before returning to settle in
the Boise area.
Phyllis is survived by her husband of 63 years, Glenn, two
daughters, Rebecca (Dan) Casey and Nancy (David) Shaw of Boise, son, Joel
(Donna) Barker of Eagle; brothers Paul (Ruth) LaRue of Salem, Oregon and
Lawrence (Peggy) LaRue of Hagerman; and grandchildren Lucy Shaw, Gabriel Shaw
and Isaac Shaw of Boise, Christopher Barker of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Jeffrey
Barker of Eagle. She was preceded in
death by brothers Robert and Warren, and a daughter Janice.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1:30 P.M.,
Monday, August 26th at Discovery Church, 1177 N. Roosevelt in Boise, with a
private interment at Idaho State Veteran’s Cemetery in Boise under the
direction of Alden-Waggoner Funeral Chapel.
The family recommends memorials in her honor to The Gideons
International, Mission Aviation Fellowship, or either of the churches named
above.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Phyllis May Larue Barker, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 1
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
