Obituary

Jean Shirley Barker, 91, of Centennial, Colorado passed away peacefully at her home on January 21, 2018. She was born July 3, 1926, in Freeport, IL to Dorothy and Fritz Heimbuch, Sr. She graduated from Freeport High School, Class of 1944. Jean married Frank Bucher and together they had two children, Diane and Peter. They later divorced. Jean is preceded in death by her loving husband of 25 years, Ronald E. Barker, Sr., and their adored Shih Tzu, Mitzie; her parents; younger brother, Fritz, Jr.; stepsons, John H. Barker and J. Christopher Barker. Jean is survived by her children, Peter Bucher, Diane Lain and her husband, Roy; stepchildren, Ron Barker, Jr., and Lisa Barker and her husband, Bob; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Jean's career of choice was being a loving, fun, creative mom and homemaker. However, with children in high school, Jean worked in jewelry retail sales for Williams Jewelers for many years. She really enjoyed the business and the family that she worked for. She always enjoyed travelling, whether car trips with her young family or later with Ron to more exotic destinations such as London, Morocco, Spain and Hawaii. Jean had a wonderful positive attitude about the challenges in life. Counseling family and friends, there is always hope. She needed that hope and strength at the age of 81, while battling lymphoma. She chose hope and life, took her treatments and side effects with courage. Remission became cure and she enjoyed 10 more love-filled years. In addition to her loving extended family, Jean is blessed with many devoted friends. She enjoyed countless hours of laughs, tears, joys, travels and lots of conversation. Jean was dearly loved and will be greatly missed.
Memorial service was held Friday, February 2, 2018, at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 5303 East County Line Road, Centennial, Colorado, followed by a reception. Memorial donations may be made in Jean's honor to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 5353 W Dartmouth Ave, Ste. 400, Denver, CO 80227.