MILFORD – Fern (Burse) Barker, 93, passed away May 19, 2011, at an Orono health care facility, after a brief illness. She was born May 16, 1918, in Olamon, the daughter of Albert and Mertie Burse.
Fern moved with her family to Fredericton, New Brunswick, in 1935. After graduation she worked in the office for Coulter Lumber, Fredericton, New Brunswick, before moving to Old Town in 1944. She worked in the office at Ounegan Woolen Mill, Old Town, until 1949. Fern was a member of First Congregational Church, Milford, where she taught Sunday school and served as church clerk for many years. Fern will also be remembered for her many crocheted and knitted dolls and toys she made for the church fairs. In 1947 Fern married Wayne Barker.
She was predeceased by her husband in 2010; her parents; her brothers, Aubrey, Merle and Russell Burse; and sisters, Pearl Gorman, Glenys Nason and Greta Beek. Fern is survived by her children, Dale Barker of Milford, Faye Brown and her husband, Edward, of Milford, Janet Davis and her husband, Donald, of Saco and Kathryn Heinonen and her husband, Charles, of Bangor; her grandchildren, Susan Keel and husband, Scott, Bryan Steele II and wife, Natasha, Johanna DiCianni and husband, Matthew, Kendra and Mallory Brown, and Kelly and Elizabeth Heinonen; three great-grandchildren, Nathan and Caleb Keel and Addison DiCianni; a brother-in-law, Floyd Barker of New Hampshire; many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, May 26, at First Congregational Church, Milford, with the Rev. Guy Grube and Pastor Karen Dresser officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to CancerCare of Maine, care of Healthcare Charities, P.O. Box 931, Bangor, ME 04402-0931 or First Congregational Church, P.O. Box 387, Milford, ME 04461. Notes of condolences may be left at
www.birminghamfuneralhome.com.