Juanita Marie Barker's Obituary
Juanita Marie (Allen) Barker passed away peacefully in her home Wednesday March 5th,2025, surrounded by the love and comfort of her family.
Juanita was born on April 20th, 1948, in Allen County daughter of Willard Allen and Alice Lena (Laver) Allen.
On October 23, 1965, Juanita married Albert Dean Barker in Erie, KS. We find comfort in knowing she is now reunited with him.
Together they shared 8 children Gregory Scott Barker (Jessica), Eric Barker (Traci), Robin Barker-Olberding (Matthew), Steven Barker (Debbie), Leah Drinkwine (Ray), Cecil Barker, Thomas Barker (Brenda), and Timothy Barker. As a mother, she raised her children with a firm but loving hand, teaching them the importance of discipline, responsibility, and resilience. Her approach to parenting was all about prepping her kids for the world with a solid mix of hard work, perseverance, and of course, the essential daily dose of humor to keep things from getting too serious.
Juanita adored her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, and they brought her immense joy. While she maintained her strong, steady presence, her heart softened for the little ones, cherishing every moment she spent with them and sharing her wisdom with a love all her own.
Juanita had a wide range of interests and loved being involved in various groups, especially The Elks. She was always eager to meet new people and share experiences, forming lasting connections through her active participation in community and social organizations. Her contributions and insights left a lasting impact on those around her.
Surviving family members include:
2 Siblings: Cheryl Allen (Broken Arrow, OK) and Robert Allen (Chanute, KS)
6 Children: Greg, Eric, Robin, Steven, Leah and Timothy
19 Grandchildren
31 Great-Grandchildren
8 Great-Great Grandchildren
Juanita was preceded in death by her parents Willard and Lena, four sisters Marjorie Mullins (Hoxie, KS), Mildred Arlena Moore (Chanute, KS), Barbara Culp (Petrolia, KS), Sharon Compton (Chanute, KS), and 2 children, Cecil and Thomas.
A Celebration of Juanita's Life will be held Friday, March 14th at 4:00 PM at the Central Park Pavilion, 101 S. Forest, Chanute. A private family burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Horizon Hospice, who took great care of Juanita in her final days. Arrangements have been entrusted to Countryside Funeral Home.
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