Annie Jean Barker

Annie Jean Barker passed away peacefully in her sleep at home on May 23, 2013. She was born in Andrews, North Carolina to Dee and Callie (West) Mosteller on November 23, 1927. She lived in Andrews throughout her childhood and graduated from Andrews High School in 1945. She attended Mars Hill College and graduated with a degree in teaching. In June 1951 she married her high school sweetheart, Sidney Barker. They were inseparable until his passing in January 2011. Their oldest son Mike was born in 1953 in Sumter, South Carolina. Daughter Debbie followed, born in 1956 in Grand Junction, Colorado. Younger son Kent joined the family in 1959 in Suffern, New York. The family moved a great deal over the years, living in Japan, New Mexico, Kansas, New York, Louisiana, Florida, Wyoming and Colorado. Following his career moves around the US and overseas, Annie Jean and Sidney settled in Denver, Colorado in 1982. To know Annie Jean was to experience southern hospitality in its finest practice, she was unfailingly kind, thoughtful and caring. Annie Jean was a loving sister, wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother. She devoted her life to her family, her children and grandchildren in all their activities. Annie Jean was a devout Christian and was a long-time member of the congregation at Ken Caryl Baptist church. She served as a Sunday school teacher, vacation Bible school leader and hostess for many church events. Her life was a witness to her loving faith. Annie Jean and Sidney made many road trips together over the years – driving from Denver to Alaska, Illinois, Washington and North Carolina. Each trip included sampling barbeque restaurants, shopping for antiques and spending time with their far-flung family. In 1998 Annie Jean suffered a massive heart attack and her determined recovery took the next couple of years. Sidney provided constant care and support to her. Since Sidney's passing, Annie Jean has been cared for by several wonderful folks who have joined our family, Nadine Cornish, Susan Diaz, Monique Hnatik, Lori Newell, Evelyn Hairston, True Kibade, Vivienne Burrell, Irma Wood, April Gonzales, Lucia Stevens, and Karen Yancy. She is survived by her son Mike (Jocelyn) Bozeman, Montana; Kent (Kim), Seattle, Washington; daughter Debbie Kosirog (Glenn) Wheaton, Illinois; Brother Jack (Arlene) Mosteller Bellevue, Washington, brother Joe (Carol Lee) Mosteller of Palm Desert, California, and brother-in-law Kenneth (Jan) Copperhill, Tennessee; eleven grandchildren: Abbie and Callie Barker; Nathan (Emily), Hannah, Justin (Rachel), Kendra and Christy Kosirog; Steven (Tracy) Barker, Scott (Niki) and Shay Badics, one great grandson, Daniel Barker, and a host of other family and friends. She was predeceased by her husband, Sidney J. Barker in 2011, and grandson, Michael D Barker in 2004. Services will be held at Ken Caryl Baptist Church at 10:00 am on Friday, May 31. Interment will take place Friday, May 31 at 12:00 p.m. at Ft. Logan National Cemetery. A gathering of family and friends will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Denver Works, 2828 N. Speer Blvd. #201 Denver, Colorado 80211 www.denverworks.org. Please share memories of Annie and condolences with her family by signing the online guestbook below.