John Forest Barker returned to a heavenly home November 21, 2018, in time to celebrate Thanksgiving with loved ones. At age 89 he passed away of causes incident to age in the home he built himself in Fruit Heights, Utah, and surrounded by family and the concern of friends and colleagues. Forest was born on April 8, 1929, in Salt Lake City, the son of Kaysville natives, John and Lucille Hyde Barker.
As had his parents, he grew up in the small town of Kaysville, the grandson of pioneers whose history was vivid in his memory. Graduating from Davis High School, he was a class officer, gregarious in his associations with many friends. He with family and those friends loved to play carrom, marbles, basket ball and baseball; they gathered arrowheads from local fields, hunted and fished his beloved streams and mountains.
He also participated in his fair share of childhood pranks, a habit that continued in later life; he was a consummate entertainer with a great laugh. Forest married his high school sweetheart Inez Tuttle Foy of Bountiful after courting her via the Bamberger train. Together they raised five children and a foster son who came to them through the Indian Placement Program.
He established a farm in Fruit Heights which included orchards, gardens and animals. From childhood, he always owned at least one horse. He and his sons were small business owners of the Pine Ridge Nursery where he loved to sit in the greenhouse, transplanting seedlings and creating Japanese Bonsai.
Forest began studies at Weber State College and continued at the University of Utah and BYU where he received bachelor and doctorate degrees. He was invited to teach at BYU, but preferred his life in Fruit Heights. His career in education took place in Davis County elementary schools.
At the age of 25, he was given the responsibility of a principal position and for 40 years he mentored countless teachers and skillfully encouraged and disciplined students with humor. He won many awards for his work in education, having instituted and directed innovative programs which resulted from the strong belief that “everyone can learn”. He was an author and avid reader who wanted all children to have those same joys.
A concern for duty and love of people pushed him to serve both community and church. He was Fruit Heights Town Board President (Mayor) and council member. A life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he was Kaysville East Stake Executive Secretary, bishop of the Kaysville 9th Ward, Fruit Heights 3rd Ward missionary and Bountiful Temple worker.
He served in many professional and civic organizations, chairing committees and holding office. Through all Forest’s activities, Inez was his support. He is survived by two sisters, Linda (Lynn) Nance, Susan (Charles) Bradshaw; his wife Inez; daughters Fawn (James) Morgan, Amy Jo (Brent) Webb; sons John (Jan) Barker, Jed (Judith) Barker, Andrew (Martha) Barker, Gary (Nora) Louis; twenty-two grandchildren; fifty-five great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Kent Hyde Barker. In his last month’s Forest was called on by compassionate friends and attended by hospice care givers Stefanie Reed, Melanie Jeppsen, Sara Porter. Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 1, 2018 at 11 a.m. at the Fruit Heights Orchard Drive Chapel, 77 South Orchard Drive 1325 East, Fruit Heights, Utah.
Friends may visit family Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Lindquist’s Kaysville Mortuary, 400 North Main St., Kaysville and Saturday from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at the church. Interment, Kaysville City Cemetery, 500 East Crestwood Road, Kaysville, Utah.
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