Mary Roberta Barker was born April 14th, 1933 in Portales, New Mexico, one of eleven children. She passed away surrounded by her family on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. She was 91 yrs old.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 66 yrs, Jimmy Hays Barker. They met in Vernon, TX at the skating rink. His brother, Bobby knew her sister Lillie and introduced them when he wanted to know who she was. The rest as they say is history.

She is survived by three sons, Jimmy Glen Barker, Alan Dale Barker and Monty Wayne Barker, and her baby sister Lillie Barker as well as many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

She was also preceded in death by her parents Jerry Lamar Fry and Adelia Barbara Ann Fry as well as her siblings, William died at 15 months, Odist, Lillie Dee died at birth, Emmer, Oscar, Leona, Essie, Floyd Eugene and Jerry Lamar, Jr

Rodie as she was affectionately called, was a wife and homemaker. She enjoyed fishing with her family and could sit for hours waiting for that big one. She was an avid garage sale shopper as well as having her own. Even at 91 she was still saying, "don't throw that away, we can put it in a garage sale." She enjoyed shopping at thrift stores always looking for a bargain but rarely buying for herself. She would be given gift cards for birthdays, Christmas and such but always used them to buy for her husband, boys and others. She also collected porcelain dolls, just about anywhere you look in her home you can find a doll staring at you. She looked forward to family reunions each year for the Barker and Fry sides. Both sides of the family had auctions to raise funds for the next reunion, the bidding often got out of hand for her peanut brittle. Often family tried to buy it before the auction thinking they could get a better deal but she would hold fast to make the most money for the reunion. Rodie spoiled all three of her boys, with Glen and Monty to care for full time she would get up each morning to prepare breakfast, her children did not get cereal except on Sunday when she was busy getting ready for church. Wednesday and Saturday were bacon and egg day, other days could be biscuits and gravy, pancakes, oatmeal and even chocolate malt-o-meal, Monty's favorite. Dinner was at roughly two to three in the afternoon and she gave herself some downtime when everyone foraged for themselves for supper. Of course, there was an open-door policy and Alan was sure to drop in almost every day for a meal and a visit. If it was ever mentioned that someone might not eat, she was sure to feed them. She believed it was her job to make sure her family was fed with great homemade food; it was rare to have take-out and even rarer to go eat at a restaurant. She was known for her banana pudding, peanut brittle and several fought over her cornbread. She was generous and kind to a fault, always giving more than taking. Her family and friends will miss her more than words can describe.

The family would like to thank Dr. Thomas Crow for his many home visits in the last few yrs so she didn't have to drive to Waurika as well as his prayers. The Doctors and nurses at Duncan Regional hospital, Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma, Around The Clock Home Health Care and Chisholm Trail Hospice Care.

Viewing will be Saturday, October 12, between 10:00 A.M-5:00 P.M., and Sunday, October 13, between 1:00-5:00 P.M. at Whitt Funeral Home. Services are planned for Monday, October 14, at 10:00 A.M. in the Whitt Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Marty Gibson officiating assisted by Bro. John Little. Graveside committal services will be at 2:00 P.M. Monday in Eastview Memorial Park Cemetery in Vernon, Texas. Serving as pallbearers are Dwayne Barker, Jeff Barker, Ricky Woodard, Gary Barker, Dale Barker, and Don Barker; honorary pallbearers are Bob Sager, Rick Stevens, and Jim Morrison. Arrangements have been entrusted to Whitt Funeral Home.