GATES R. BARKER, 53, was born Oct. 10, 1919, to
Jessie Lee Coffman & Robert Edgar Barker. He had
two brothers, Edgar Barker (RHS-1930) and Robert
Lee Barker (RHS-1944) and four sisters, Clara
Barker Singleton (RHS-1930), Catherine Barker
Allison (RHS-1933), Hazel Barker Harris (RHS-1936),
& Elizabeth Barker Ball (RHS-1942). He attended
Ranger High School in the Class of 1937 at Ranger,
TX. Gates died on Feb. 17, 1973 in Cleburne, TX.
He had 2 children, Kathryn "Kay" Barker Enoch, who
lives in Austin, and Gates "Rick" Rickard Barker
Jr, who lives in Round Rock. Kay is an attorney
and Rick is in the computer business.
WIFE: KARY MARY KATHRYN HEATLY BARKER
SWANTESON went to be with our Lord on March 28,
2018, with burial in Rosehill Cemetery at Cleburne,
TX.
Kary would disagree that she shared the qualities
of the Greatest Generation, but her humility makes
the description all the more compelling. Her life's
story, by God's grace, is one of courage, strength,
and perseverance.
Born on the Fourth of July, 1920, the only child of
Mary Katherine Stafford Heatly and Homer Vinson Heatly,
Kary was raised in Mangum, Oklahoma where her father
and his brothers owned cotton gins. As the effects of
the Depression worsened, Oklahoma was hit by the Dust
Bowl of the 1930s that devastated the cotton industry.
Kary graduated in 1938 from Mangum High School and in
1941 received a BA degree in English and Speech from
North Texas State Teachers College. During World War II,
Kary was a Junior High School English, History & Speech
teacher. Near the end of the war, Kary married Gates
Rickard Barker (RHS-1937) of Ranger, TX. At the age of
25, Gates was one of the youngest Majors in the history
of the Marine Corps, and fought for four years in the
Pacific Theater, participating in the battles of Tarawa
and The Philippines. After the war, Gates entered Tulane
Medical School in New Orleans where Kary was a model in
motion picture ads appearing before the main feature,
since as a married woman she was barred from teaching.
Always a beauty, Kary appeared in ads for cars, refrigerators
and washing machines. After medical school, Gates & Kary
made their home in Cleburne, TX, where Gates was a General
Practitioner and Kary was a homemaker and volunteer in the
community and in their beloved church, Holy Comforter
Episcopal. Kary was a frequent presenter of book reviews
in Cleburne and surrounding communities. After Gates'
death in 1973, Kary moved to Dallas and was a faithful
caregiver for her mother, Katherine Heatly, who lived
with Kary for 16 years. In 1980, Kary married another
wonderful man, Carl Helmer Swanteson. Together they
traveled and enjoyed many activities in Dallas. Kary
always loved to learn and teach, and served as a docent
at both the Ft. Worth Museum of Science and History
and the Meadows Museum of Art in Dallas. After Carl's
death, Kary moved to Austin in 2013 to live with her
family. Kary's family is so very thankful to the Lord
for her long life, even though for the last twelve years
she was afflicted by total blindness. An avid reader,
this loss of sight was a particular hardship for her,
but the enduring courage, dignity and grace with which
she lived was an inspiration to everyone. She never
complained. Everyone marveled at her positive attitude
and peaceful acceptance of her condition. Kary's sharp
intellect and wit were also hallmarks of her personality.
She loved history, art, good books, good conversation
and God's Word. She especially loved the company of
friends and family. She was adored by all who knew her.
Kary is predeceased by her parents, husbands and several
dear cousins.
She is survived by her children and their spouses,
daughter Kay Barker Enoch and husband, Craig, of Austin
and son Rick Barker and wife, Valerie, of Round Rock;
by her step-daughters Catherine Swanteson of Bryan,
Christy Swanteson and husband, David Stones, of Round
Rock, & Carol Swanteson of Dallas; by her grandchildren
Gates Enoch and wife, Kelli, of Dallas, Kathryn Enoch
Welch and husband, Hunter, of Austin, Claire Barker of
Round Rock, Dan Stones and wife, Emily, of Denver,
Colorado, Katie Vedlitz and husband, Will Patton, of
Austin and Carl Stones and wife, Sarah, of Indianapolis,
Indiana; by her six great-grandchildren; by her cousin
Stanley McAnelly and wife, Jackie, of South Lake; and
the many children & grandchildren of her beloved cousins.