Esther Temperly Barker

Esther Temperley Barker died Thursday, January 21 at the age of 91 years. Mrs. Barker was well known in the local community as the author of ''Options for Oldsters,'' a weekly column that appeared for many years in the Daily Times of Maryville/Alcoa, Tennessee. In addition to serving in leadership positions in the United Methodist Women and being a member of Broadway United Methodist Church, Esther was a Christian educator, teacher, speech therapist, and writer. Mrs. Barker received her early education in the schools of Newton, Massachusetts; graduated from State Teacher's College, Framingham, Massachusetts, received the B.R.E. degree from Hartford School of Religious Education, Hartford, Connecticut. She then attended Yale Divinity School in the early 1930's as a member of the first class in which women were admitted. She later received a B.S. degree in library science from East Tennessee State University; M.S. in speech and hearing from the University of Tennessee and had had additional studies at Western Carolina University. As an author, Mrs. Barker wrote several books to assist children needing speech therapy. She also penned two children's books about the early life and lineage of Jesus which were published and distributed by the Upper Room. In addition to children's books, Mrs. Barker wrote five books of various topics ranging from the life of John Wesley to a history of the Barker family. One of Mrs. Barker's most interesting and insightful books, Shooting Creek Was Our Parish, chronicles the mission work undertaken in a rural Appalachian community by her and her late husband, Rev. Paul A. Barker (deceased, May 21, 1998). Mrs. Barker was a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will be dearly missed. She passed on to be with her husband after a spending several years at Asbury Acres Health Care Center, where she was treated by caring staff. Mrs. Barker's survivors include her daughters and sons-in-law, Martha Louise Barker Davidson and John Edwin Davidson of Richmond, KY., and Ruth Barker Porter and Jack Bennett Porter of Hendersonville, NC.; son and daughter-in-law, Paul Anthony Barker, Jr. and Pamela Kay Miller Barker of Madisonville; grandchildren, Mark Davidson of Lexington, KY, Amy Conner and husband Mike of Richmond, KY., David Porter and wife Judy of Springfield, VA, Peter Porter and wife Phyllis of Coarsegold, CA, Sarah Bigelow and husband Jay of Gardnerville, NV, Helen Porter of Fresno, CA, Chris Barker and Allison Barker of Madisonville; great-grandchildren, Hunter Conner of Richmond, KY, Claire Porter and Jesse Porter of Coarsegold, CA, Sandra Porter and Bill Porter of Springfield, VA, and Daniel Bigelow of Gardnerville, NV; and her brother, John K. Temperley of Allentown, PA. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 24 at Asbury Acres Retirement Center with the Rev. Robert Hayes officiating. McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The family will receive friends immediately after the service in the parlor at Asbury Acres Retirement Home. Private interment will be at Highland Memorial Cemetery in Knoxville at 2 p.m. Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Barker-Temperley Scholarship Fund, Hiwassee College, 225 Hiwassee College Drive, Madisonville, TN 37354. McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home, Maryville, TN in charge 865-982-6812