Beryl Jeffers Barker

Beryl Jeffers Barker ll was born to Albert Wesley Barker and Olive Matilda Jeffers on February 8, 1928 in Columbus, Montana. At an early age they moved to Billings, Montana where he spent his childhood growing up during the depression. Graduating from High School in Billings Montana in June 1946, where he lettered in football. He then, (like many young Americans), immediately turned around and joined the military that summer, going into the Navy.

Beryl lived and played with his siblings, sister Dolly, and Brothers Jack, and Lyle. His father Albert was an inventor, miner, and rancher, among other careers. Beryl would go on cattle drives, tending to the horses. He told they story how he participated in the last cattle drive in the State of Montana. He also spent his early years mining with his dad. He sold horseradish and delivered ice to help make ends meet during the depression. This gave him his strong work ethic. His keen interest in real estate later in life was partially a result of his years spent tramping about Montana in the mining industry. Beryl also enjoyed the summers spent fishing and camping with his brother and his dad, on these trips.

Beryl married his high school sweetheart Nona Hardtke on April 17, 1947. They moved to Bremerton, Washington while he was in the Navy, then to the Seattle area where together they had 7 children. He also supported 60+ foster children and his family which was raised primarily in Lake Forrest Park. He was very proud of his children and all of their achievements. Many summers would be spent at the "cabin" on Decatur Island in the San Juans. (An area now called Barkers Cove). During these active years he graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Business in 1952. He worked for Allstate Insurance then started his own business called the North City Agency, an Insurance Brokerage firm.

In 1969 he married Lavonne Deiner. Also at this time he went into the field of real estate. His knowledge in real estate led him to many large land developments in the Seattle area, as well as the lease management industry. Beryl was involved in many local real-estate projects including the Alderwood Mall, The development of the Mill Creek Community, and the largest Weyerhaeuser housing development in their history, to mention a few.

He married Celeste Ripley in 1986. His last 20 years of work were at the Port of Seattle, where he was the leasing manager, and at the Casey Family Program, which he felt was his most rewarding. At Casey he was responsible for the building of over 20 medical clinics to help the impoverished. A great many of these were on land owned by Native Americans. Beryl was very proud of the fact he was able to give something back to their communities.

He loved business, hydro plane races, (Bill Muncey once took him for a ride on the Thriftway 2), was an avid reader and master speed reader. He always enjoyed gardening, loved to fish, and loved to go grocery shopping. While in business he was very active with the local Chambers of Commerce, the Toastmasters, and was an active Shriner for over thirty years.

He will be missed by his wife Celeste Ripley, sister Dolly Trumbo, surviving sons and daughters Jack (Linda) Barker, Forrest Scott (Diana) Barker, Cotty (Ted) Fremuth, Robin Barker and Kandyce (Brian) Hansen, as well as step children Kathy Richards, Scott Ripley, Robert Ripley, and Roger Ripley. He had 14 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He now joins his father Albert Barker, mother Olive Jeffers, his brothers Jack and Lyle Barker, along with his first wife Nona Barker, his two children Dara Barker and B. Jeffers "Squeak" Barker, and his wife Joy Barker.