BAR HARBOR – Jean Thompson Barker, 87, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2011, surrounded by her family. She was born June 28, 1924, in Presque Isle, daughter of Margaret Kierstead and Otis Thompson. After her father’s passing, Jean was lovingly raised by Robert Roope Sr. and her mother.
Jean grew up in Presque Isle and was a graduate of Presque Isle High School. She married George O. Barker, March 14, 1946, and moved to Bar Harbor in 1951 with their two children, Burt and Lona. She devoted her life to her family, her faith and service to others. She was the Bar Harbor town clerk for 33 years before retiring at age 74. As a devoted Christian, Jean was deeply involved in her church community and lived her life to serve the Lord. She participated in church activities at the National and State level, and has been a devoted member of First Baptist Church of Bar Harbor for 59 years. During Jean’s “retirement,” she spent countless volunteer hours for local organizations, including Island Connections and Food Pantry, among others. She loved nothing more than to help other people and enjoyed her daily visits to Sonogee Nursing Home as well as taking care of the kids in the nursery at First Baptist Church. Jean was an avid sports fan and could be seen in her reserved seat at all Mount Desert Island basketball games as well as many of the University of Maine women’s games. She has been a season ticket holder for the MDI basketball teams since 1969 and rarely missed a game. She loved going to these sports outings with her good friends Helen, Don, Joyce, Gary, Eleanor and Anna, and found great pride in watching her children and grandchildren play and coach throughout the years. It was a very rare day that Jean would miss her morning walks or her coffee at Jordan’s Restaurant with her good friends. She always loved a good adventure and was a kid at heart, never passing up an opportunity for a boat ride, motorcycle ride or a good game of scrabble.
She is survived by her daughter, Lona and her husband, Gary, of Rockport; son Burt and his wife, Sue, of Bar Harbor; grandchildren, Mike and his fianc‚e, Amanda, Cammie, Brent, Brianne, and Bracey and her husband, Kasey; brothers, Bob and his wife, Regina, Ed, and Bill and his wife, Brenda; brother-in-law, Gary and his wife, Joyce, as well as many other special family members and friends. Jean was predeceased by her husband, Ollie, after 44 years of marriage and her siblings Donald, Keith and Dot.
Friends are invited to call 4-6 p.m. Friday, July 8, at Jordan-Fernald, 48 Eden St., Bar Harbor. A celebration of her life will be held 4 p.m. Saturday, July 9, at First Baptist Church, Bar Harbor, with Pastor Scott Records officiating. Interment will be at Ledgelawn Cemetery, Bar Harbor. If friends desire, contributions in Jean’s memory may be made to First Baptist Church Youth Scholarship Fund, 46 Ledgelawn Ave., Bar Harbor, ME 04609. Condolences may be expressed at
www.jordanfernald.com.