Leo D. Barker

Leo Donald Barker, aged 92, died Sunday evening, November 7, 2021 at home in Niles, Ohio, surrounded by loved ones.

He is survived by five children: Ronald G. (Fawnda) Barker of Niles, Jack D. (Mary Elizabeth) Barker of Niles, Robert D. (Sheila) Barker of Palm City, Florida, Gwendolyn Cheryl  (Ted) Bull of Manassas, Virginia, Leisa (Rob) James of Berlin Center; 12 grandchildren: Jason Barker, Marisa (Simon) Nance, Rachel (Aaron) Hennecke, Kelli Gould, Rob (Jeanna) James, Kyle Barker, Amy (James) Edens, Justin (Dana) Barker, Heather (A.H.) Davis, Riley Barker, Daniel Barker, Christine Barker. He was blessed with 10 great-grandchildren: Samuel Nance, Elijah Nance, Wesley James, Teagan Gould, Cameron James, Preston Barker, Hudson Barker, Tate Davis, Vivian Rose Hennecke, and Drew Davis. He was also survived by a sister, Ella Mae (Clifford) Porter of Olive Hill, Kentucky.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Mavis (Moore) Barker who died on March 25, 2007; granddaughter, Katie Barker and seven brothers Lowell, Beecher, George, Henry, Arthur (Tommy), James, and Talmadge Barker.

The third of nine children to Charles and Della (Waggoner) Barker, Leo was born on May 14, 1929, in Gimlet, Kentucky. He was raised on a farm in the hills of Elliott County, where he learned to hunt, fish, trap, and till the soil as a man of the earth.

On May 7,1949, Leo married the love of his life, Mary Mavis Moore, in Grayson, Kentucky. They started their life together in a log cabin, furnished by the works of their own hands. He led a hard-scrabble life as a farmer, rail splitter, and logger. Eventually, they saved enough money to move to Sharkey, KY, where they owned and operated a small general store and gas station. In 1952, during hard times, they moved to Niles, Ohio, where Leo found steady work as a steel fabricator, a skill at which he excelled. Over the years, he also taught himself carpentry, taking side-jobs to meet the needs of a growing family. In the 1970s, established as a master carpenter, he started his own contracting business, L. D. Barker Builders, constructing mainly family homes. For the next 25 years, with his son Jack working alongside him, the business flourished, and they built scores of quality homes throughout Trumbull and four other Ohio counties.  Always industrious throughout his life, Leo valued hard work. Whatever he put his hand to, he accomplished tenaciously with all his might. In retirement, he took up beekeeping, a hobby that he fully enjoyed, because the bees worked as hard as he did, and never took a coffee break.  Leo was known as a witty storyteller and mimic, always ready with an entertaining, often funny story about people and places that he knew and loved from days gone by. He also enjoyed the natural world, able to easily identify and name every tree. When able, he was an avid hunter, returning for many years with family members to a favorite place in the hills of Kentucky near the old homestead, which he lovingly called “The Shady Rest.”

Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, November 11, 2021 at the Holeton-Yuhasz Funeral Home in Niles.  On Friday, November 12, a viewing at 10 a.m. will be followed by a funeral service at 11 a.m., conducted by Reverend G. Ben Reed. He will be laid to a final rest at Kerr Cemetery in Mineral Ridge.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the First Baptist Church of Niles, or Grace Hospice. 

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