Nancee June Barker

Nancee June (Phillips) Barker, 91, of Odessa, Missouri passed away on Monday, November 21, 2022 at the New Haven Living Center in Odessa, Missouri surrounded by family. Nancee was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 21, 1931, to Merry Alta Jeffries Phillips and Harry Ross Phillips. They lived in Kansas City, Missouri where she attended Bancroft School until 1938 when they moved to Holden, Missouri where her parents bought a beauty shop. Her father died in 1939. In 1945, her mother married Harrison Sanders and they moved to Odessa. While attending high school, Nancee was elected president of her freshman class. In her sophomore year, she was invited into The George Chapter of the National Honor Society. She was a member of the Future Homemaker Club, the Barkettes Pep Club, Journalist Club and the Ex Lebra for all four years of high school. She was president of FHA for 2 years. Her senior year, she was elected as a cheerleader of the Pep Club and elected as basketball queen. She had a lead part in the class play. She was a member of the Rainbow for Girls. She graduated in May 1949 and on June 26, 1949, she married E.L. Barker at the First Christian Church where she taught a youth Sunday School class.

She was a member of the Christian Women’s Fellowship. She was a member Pythian Sisters and the Coronet Rebecca Lodge. She served as Noble Grand of that lodge for one year and served as Chaplain for many years. She served as President of the Parent Teachers Association in 1968. She served on the committee that started the First Kindergarten in Odessa, taught by Blanch Sparks in Mrs. Sparks basement before it was accepted into the school system. She was a Cub Scout Den Mother in 1963 when their sons were in Scouts. She served as room mother in many classes when their 3 children were in grade school. She made cakes and decorated them for special occasions. She made the cake for Dr. W.E. Martins big retirement celebration.

She was employed by Slushers Motor Company as a bookkeeper in 1949 and 1950. Then went to work at the Town and Country shoe company as a top stitcher. She also worked at the school cafeteria when it was the only cafeteria for the grade school and high school. She then went to Beauty School in Raytown and became a beautician in 1962 and had her own shop in her home, working with her mother. She retired in 2001. She then enjoyed babysitting with her grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Her husband, E. L., passed away June 8, 2009, after 60 years of marriage. They had 3 children, a son, Lee Earl, born August 2, 1953, a son, Bruce Phillip, born March 5, 1955, and a daughter, Tamra Sue, born December 11, 1957. She is survived by her three children, Lee and wife Warna of Higginsville, Missouri, her son, Bruce and wife Leisa of Williamsburg, Missouri and her daughter, Tamra and her husband Lyn Mefferd. Also, her grandchildren Justin Mefferd and wife Holly and their two sons Peyton and Jace Mefferd and Angelia Lett and John Rucker and her two daughters Lillie and Emma Lett, Amy Vance and husband, Wes and their two children Addison and Owen Vance, Abby Wehmeyer and husband Jerod and their three children Madilynn, Gabriel and Nicholas Wehmeyer, Ali Wilcox and husband Joe and their two children, Brylee and Ila and Adi Corneleius and husband Ryan and their two children, Stella and Finn, Sarah Eilbracht and husband Bill and their two children Madison and Connor, Mathew Barker and his 2 children, Rosalee, and Tommy. A brother on law, Leroy Barker, and wife Janice and four nephews Hap & Kip Phillips and Mike and Steve Barker and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, mother and father, her stepfather and a sister-in-law Doris Phillips and brother Bob Phillips.

Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Saturday, November 26, 2022, at the First Christian Church, 224 W. Dryden St., Odessa, MO, 64076.  A funeral service will follow at 12:00 p.m., Saturday, November 26, 2022, at the Church.  Interment will be in Greenton Cemetery.  Memorials are suggested to the First Christian Church of Odessa.  Memories of Nancee “Jan” Barker and condolences for her family may be left at www.LedfordFamilyFH.com or on our Facebook Page. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2nd St., Odessa, MO, 64076, 816-633-5524.