Chris H Barker
(January 06, 1963 – September 19, 2008)
Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday in Cornerstone Community Fellowship, Shelbyville, with Rev. David McHenry officiating. Visitation from 3:00-8:00 p.m. Monday in the church. Burial will be in Jordan Cemetery, near Shelbyville. Arrangements are by Howe and Yockey Funeral Home, Shelbyville. Memorials may be given to the Shelby Co. 4-H Federation or Cornerstone Community Fellowship.
Chris was born on January 6, 1963 in Shelbyville, Illinois, the son of Charles and Carolyn Dugan Barker. Chris graduated from Windsor High School in 1981 and from the Missouri Auction School in 2001. He was a farmer and an auctioneer. He was very passionate about his occupations, and did not consider either to be a job. He was a member of Cornerstone Community Fellowship Church, Shelby County Farm Bureau, Illinois State Auctioneer Association, and a former member of the Illinois Tractor Pullers Association. He married Beth Elson on March 2, 1985 in Windsor, Illinois. Chris loved spending time with his family and friends. He was extremely proud of his two sons and all that they have accomplished. He and his wife, Beth, enjoyed every minute together as they watched their children grow. Chris’s hobbies were collecting toy tractors, restoring antique tractors, and attending tractor pulls with his sons. One of his favorite pastimes was playing with his loving bulldog, Sissy. He enjoyed his involvement with Shelby County 4—H and always found great pleasure in helping others. Chris had a special way of making people laugh and could put a smile on anyone’s face.
Surviving are his wife, Beth; sons, Danny and Jason Barker both of Shelbyville; parents, Charlie and Carolyn Barker of Shelbyville; sister, Cathy Lading of Oregon, Illinois; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Joe and Bernie Elson of Windsor; brother-in-law, David Elson and wife Debby of Windsor; nieces, Kelsey Swing and husband Chris of Lerna, Brooke Lading of Neoga, Hannah Elson of Windsor, and Rachel Harris and husband Mark of Mattoon; nephew, Ben Elson of Windsor; and very special friend and mentor, Gordon Price of Shumway.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Joe and Mabel Barker and Donald and Lillian Dugan.