JOYCE ELEANOR BARKER "not the movie star"

Joyce Eleanor Barker passed away peacefully January 12, 2009 at her son Jeff's home with her two sons and daughter-in-law by her side. She was born November 3, 1927 to Thomas and Agnes Arenz in Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin just outside of Green Bay and remained a Packers fan an her Life.

She was married March 9, 1946 to Curtiss R. Barker at Nativity Church, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and they had 9 children, Frances, Pamela, Jeffrey, Janet, Steven, Clifford, Julie, Patricia and Michelle along with 21 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Mom gave up a promising singing career to marry and raise all of her kids, and then stayed at home to raise us including raising Steven her son who had cerebral palsy but she still found time to sing in the church choir, went to school to become a choir director and held that position in every church she attended. She also worked in the Lutheran Women's Missionary League and became a national parliamentarian. After here kids were grown she went back to school completed high school and gained College degrees in Interior Design and Real Estate from Columbia Basin College.

Through out her life she taught us art as she was an accomplished artist, with a fine ability to draw just about anything; she was an accomplished seamstress, was a member of the Wenatchee Quilt Guild. She played the piano and organ and sang like a bird throughout her life and we feel she was singing with the angels as she went home. She was a great cook and made the best hot German potato salad and no one can match her lemon meringue pie. She never took a picture of a sunset she did not like. She will be truly missed by all that knew her and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her Mother, Agnes, and her Father, Thomas, her ex husband, Curtiss, her only Sister, Bette and her loving son, Steven.

Mom battled Alzheimer's disease the last 4 years of her life therefore she told everyone that her name was Joyce Eleanor Barker but "not the movie star" but she was our movie star! We love you mom.

The family is forever indebted to Hospice and Trish for their help and understanding.

Einan's Funeral Home at 915 ByPass Highway Richland, WA is in charge of the arrangements.

Memorial service will be held on Sunday January 18, 2009 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Richland, WA at 1:00 p.m. with a private graveside at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Richland, WA.

We as the family ask that any donations that may want to be made be made to Hospice of Wenatchee address is 933 Red Apple Road, Wenatchee, WA 98801.