My Grandpa Barker

Picture at Our last year summer visit

About a month before I was due with Kyson, my Grandpa was diagnosed with a very aggressive brain tumor. It had already progressed so much the doctors said that there was really no treatment that would help and he was sent home. This news was very unexpected because he had always been in amazing health. My family had already planned an 80th birthday party for my grandma but it ended up being a time for the family to see him one last time here on earth. I was not able to make it to the gathering because I was due in a few weeks and didn’t think it was wise to travel. Then a week after Kyson was born my sweet grandpa passed away. I also was not able to make it to the funeral because Kyson was so young, but my mom brought her phone in, called me, and left it on so I could listen. It was extremely hard for me not to be there but, it was nice to be able to feel apart by listening on the phone.
I have such sweet memories of my grandpa throughout all the stages of my life. He has truly been a great example to me of service and how to show love for your family. As a really little girl I remember sitting with him at his desk in his home office and coloring or reading books with him while he worked. My cousins and I also loved to play in the beautiful yard that he had created. He always had an amazing garden. In one home he had a beautiful rose garden on a hill. He would go and cut flowers from it for grandma each day and sometimes for me too. As kids we would build forts in the bushes in the yard and grandpa would come in and play his saxophone or another instrument for us in the fort. We loved it. We also took trips to the beach each year. Grandpa never got in the water and would always wear long pants and long sleeves to the beach but he would always help us build some amazing sand castles. When I was in high school after my grandparents served 2 missions they came and stayed with us for a few months. I loved having them so close and loved learning a little about gardening from grandpa as we planted a tomato garden together for my young women project. My grandpa loved to play games. Whenever the Barkers gather there is always a game of some kind going on. I think we all got our love of games from grandpa. He was always willing to play. I have many memories of grandpa making his famous BBQ chicken. I think almost every time we got together grandpa made his chicken. It’s so amazing. My most favorite memory I have is when I had the job of cleaning my father’s office at night my grandpa volunteered every time he was in town to go and clean with me. I had that job for 15 years, and he ended up coming with me many times. I’m sure he would have preferred to stay and play games than empty a million garbage bags, but I knew that he was only going to spend time with me and to help me out. I cherish those one on one times we had together and I learned a lot from him. As I have gotten older it always touched my heart when he would tell me how he thought I was a good mother and tell me how proud he was of me and the woman I have become. He would never let me forget by reminding me every time he came to visit. I think the greatest lesson I learned from him is service and selflessness. He was always looking for opportunities to serve and was always first to volunteer for a job he knew no one wanted to do. He was truly a selfless man.
I am so blessed to be a part of his eternal family. I love that peace the gospel gives to me that I will be able to be with him again someday. I love you Grandpa!