Kenneth Wayne Barker

Ken was born on March 20, 1947, in Liberal Kansas, the second son, to Claude Bizmark Barker and Leota Pearl Barker. After a 5-year battle with lung cancer, he passed away on April 29, 2025, in Dolores, Colorado surrounded by his family.

Ken joined the USS Navy in 1965 and served until 1970. He served as a Storekeeper “A” on the ship USS Renville APA-227. His older brother Leo served on the same ship. He was stationed at Da Nang, Vietnam in 1968.

He married Gail Leatha (McCutcheon) Barker in August of 1968 while he was stateside. Ken and Gail then went to Japan for the last part of his tour. Their first child Sheila Tomeko Baker was born on the Naval Base in Yokosuka Japan in 1969. After his discharge from the Navy, Ken and Gail had their second child Jackie Kay (Barker) Gapp, born in Liberal Kansas in 1971.

After the birth of Jackie, Ken and Gail moved back to Colorado in 1973. He worked for Firestone, Brush Police Department, 7 to 11’s, and Wray County Sheriff’s Dept, all in northeastern Colorado. Ken, Gail and the girls then moved back to Cortez in 1978 and worked for the Montezuma County Sheriff Dept. until 1985. He then went to work for Citizens State Bank as a Loans Adjuster. After leaving the bank, he worked for Western Excelsior in Mancos. His final job was working for Ertels.

Ken’s favorite pastime was fishing with his daughter Jackie, hunting with his daughter Sheila, playing Dominoes, playing Farmtown, and doing his genealogy. Of course, his family came first.

Ken is survived by his daughters Sheila (Barker) Thompson of Doloresc CO. and her dogs (his favorites), Jackie (Barker) Gapp and her husband Craig Gapp of Lincoln NE, his grandchildren Kenneth “Draven” Barker and wife Ashley of Lincoln, NE, Chezney Barker of Lincoln, NE and Landen Thompson of Cortez,CO, his brother Ron Barker and wife Cathy, his sister (in-law) Debie Mccutchon Schimdt, and his favorite…his great-grandson Kenneth Lochlain Barker.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents Biz and Dode, his older brother Leo and older sister LeEtta, and numerous cousins.

Graveside services with full honors for Kenneth Wayne Barker of Cortez/Dolores will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, 5-9-2025 at the Cortez Cemetery.