Linda Mae Barker (79) of Brownstown

Linda Mae Barker, 79, of Brownstown, IL, passed away peacefully sitting at her kitchen table on the evening of October 28th. She was happy and surrounded by her husband, three sons, and multiple generations of family. She is now rejoicing at the side of her Lord and Savior.

Funeral service will be at 10:00a.m. Friday, November 1, 2024 at Kaskaskia Church, 1845 E. 2700 Ave., Beecher City, IL with a one-hour visitation prior to the service. Interment will be at Kaskaskia Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, October 31, 2024 at Pagel Funeral Homes in St. Elmo. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Lighthouse Pregnancy Center in Vandalia, Kaskaskia Church, or the donor’s choice.

Linda was born February 11, 1945 to Dewey R. and Phoebe Alice Venise (Dial) Jennings, of St. Elmo, IL. She attended St Elmo schools until the age of 15. Riding in the back of a truck sitting on chicken cages, her brother “Red” took a corner too fast and Linda fell out into a bed of red thorned roses. Upset, Linda had her relative contact her old-flame Danny to meet her, they’ve been inseparable ever since. 4 days shy of her 16th birthday, On February 7th, 1961, Linda married her soul mate and love of her life, Danny Eugene Barker in Fayette Co., IL. They had three boys, Douglas Eugene, Darrell Lee & Dwayne Eddie. Throughout her life Linda fulfilled multiple roles; wife, mother, nurse, grandmother and most recently, grangran. Grangran spent her time with family and most of it in the kitchen where the door was always open and the seats always full. Noodles were her specialty and never lasted long. Grangran & Grandpa lived a blessed, full life, filled with family.

She is survived by her husband, Danny Barker & dog Penny; sons, Doug Barker (wife Renee) of Brownstown, Darrell Barker (wife Patti) of Sonora, TX, Dwayne Barker ( wife Tammy) of Brownstown; her grandchildren, David Barker (Melissa), Melinda (Bruce Dush), Dusty Barker (Jenny), Daniel Barker (Jessica), Dani (Chance Dillard), Don Barker (Nina), Tabitha (Brad Rusk); great-grandchildren, Dawson Barker (Peyton Hilpipre), Madi (Isaac Hebenstreit), Levi Barker (Zoie Wemple), Savannah, Lydia, Jameson & Noah Dush, Mark, Sophia & Brooklyn Barker, Mya, Peyton & Deklyn Barker, Daylin, Castyn & Wayden Dillard, Leah & Will Rusk; great great-grandchildren, Evadean, John & Hazel Hebenstreit, Averie Barker.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Dewey & Phoebe Jennings; siblings, John MacArther “Red” Jennings, Donald Dean “Duck” Rhodes, Faye Rhodes, Wilbert Cleo “Wilkie” Jennings, Leonard Roy “Butch” Jennings, Gerald Dean Jennings and Wilda Arlene Niehaus.