Helen Barker

Helen G. Barker, age 97, of Muscatine, Iowa, formerly of Washington, Iowa, died Wednesday, July 31, 2013, in Muscatine, Iowa. A graveside service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 3, 2013, at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa with Rev. Herb Yoder officiating. Memorials may be made in Helen’s name to Cottey College, 1000 W. Austin, Nevada, MO 64772. Online condolences may be sent for Helen’s family through the web at www.jonesfh.com Helen Gwendolyn Barker, nee Masson, the daughter of Dr. W. John Masson and Dora (Montgomery) Masson of Washington was born November 6, 1915. She was the second of five children: William, Jr., Catherine, Robert, and David, all deceased. She was a graduate of Washington High School’s Class of 1933, Washington Junior College, and the University of Iowa, after which she taught secondary English at Bloom Township High School in Chicago Heights, Illinois for three years. On June 22, 1940, she married Edward R. Barker, also of Washington, and they had three children: Robert John, Patricia Ann, and Edward R. Barker, Jr. They made their home in the Chicagoland area. Helen returned to teaching in District 214, Arlington Heights, Illinois, for several years. Her husband died on April 29, 1975, and Helen continued to maintain their home in Mount Prospect, Illinois. In 1980, she retired from the cartography department of Rand McNally in Skokie, Illinois. Following the death of Ed, Jr. in 1998, she and her son Robert assumed a large share of the responsibilities for raising her granddaughter Gwen. Her son Robert died in 2012. Helen was a 73 year member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, holding several offices, including president. She was an active participant in her church affiliations throughout the years including Sunday School teacher at Trinity Methodist Church in Chicago, Illinois and deacon in Southminster Presbyterian Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois. In 2002, she returned to Washington and in 2013 she moved to Sunny Brook of Muscatine to be closer to her daughter. Survivors include her daughter Patricia Corriell (Wayne) of Atalissa, Iowa, and four grandchildren: Nell Barker Ferbrache (Mike) of Chicago, Illinois; Daniel John Corriell of Denver, Colorado; Suzanne Barker Corriell of Richmond, Virginia; and Gwen Barker of Des Moines, Iowa. Also surviving is her great-granddaughter, Edie Barker Ferbrache of Chicago, Illinois. Several nieces, nephews, and cousins survive including Harold Stephens and George Masson of Washington, Iowa.

Helen Barker

November 6, 1915 - July 31, 2013