Remembering Lois Evelyn (Egeland) Barker
BARKER - On January 23, 2022, Lois Evelyn Barker (nee Egeland) went to be with her Lord.
Lois entered this world on a cold, blizzarding January 15, 1928, in a small two room structure on the Egeland homestead near Acadia Valley. She almost died that night but God had plans for her. Lois had fond memories of growing up on the farm near Acadia Valley, Alberta, with her parents, Marcus Norman Egeland and Lulu Evelyn(Leach)Egeland and six siblings.
While she attended grades 10 and 11, Lois boarded in Oyen, Alberta, going home on weekends. She then attended Camrose Lutheran College for grade 12. Lois had a lifelong dream to teach and a shortage of teachers after WWII allowed her to teach despite having only a High School Education. She taught at Graindale School for four years until more teachers graduated from University and she was let go. Lois held a couple of clerking jobs in small country stores and then moved to Youngstown to work in a Seniors’ Home for men. She began as a dishwasher but very shortly she became Head Cook and it was here that Lois began making the delicious buns and meals for which she became known. Through this time she never gave up on her dream to teach again.
It was in Youngstown, in the fall of 1951, that Loie (Lois) met Eddy (Robert Edward Barker). They were married August 14, 1952 and spent the next few years living in Youngstown where they had their first children, Connie and Neil. A few years later they moved to Grande Prairie where Neil and David were added to the family. Lois loved being a wife and mother and spent many happy years with this as her full time occupation. When the children were old enough, Lois began to work toward attaining a teaching degree by attending classes at Grande Prairie Community College. When Ed was transferred to Edmonton in 1972, Lois attended the University of Alberta and accomplished her goal of becoming a teacher with a Bachelor of Education Degree, graduating in 1975. Lois taught in the County of Parkland for ten years, most of which was spent teaching grade two on the Enoch Reserve. She loved her time there and many students benefited from her kind and loving presence in the classroom.
In their retirement, Ed and Lois enjoyed travel to Europe, across Canada, Hawaii, and going on cruises. In 2003 Lois was devastated after Ed’s passing but she pressed on, clinging to her Creator.
Lois’ life was characterized by love. She loved the Lord Jesus and she loved others. When she wasn’t caring for others, she enjoyed writing, reading, canning, baking, cooking, swinging, growing flowers and having coffee with anyone who needed to talk. Lois always made family celebrations special with lots of delicious food and celebration. She particularily enjoyed Christmases, beginning with Christmases on the farm where the gifts were not large but where love abounded.
Lois taught Sunday School, led Pioneer Girls, led women’s Bible Studies and served as a deaconess in the church she attended. She was a prayer warrior and her deep and abiding faith in Jesus carried her through life.
Lois will be dearly missed by her children: Connie (Barry) Lappin, Neil (Brenda) Barker, David (Ora) Barker and Brian (Petra); by her grandchildren: Steve (Lori) Barker, Matt (Cait) Barker, Mike (Jill)Barker, Josh (Alyssa)Barker, Nadine (Chris)Davies, Zack (Michelle)Barker, Kent (Denae)Lappin, Trivun Barker and Madeline Barker; by her great-grandchildren: Von, Cade, Eva, Jack, Ellie, Ruby, Maggie, Eli, Seth, Averi, Isaac, Amelia and Adeline; by her sister Eunice and many nieces,nephews and cousins: and by many others who called her Mom, Grandma and friend.
Lois was predeased by her parents, her husband Ed, her siblings: Ellard (Jean), Caroline (Harry), Norman (Eileen), Gordon (Ruthann) and John (Twyla) and brother-in-law, Al Harris.
The family would like to thank the caring staff of Father Lacombe Care Centre in Calgary where Lois spent the last four years of her life after being diagnosed with dementia and where she continued to spend time comforting others.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to one of the charities Lois supported: TEAM Canada, Village Missions,the Youth Emergency Shelter Society (Edmonton) or Father Lacombe (Calgary).
A memorial service remembering Lois will be held at 1:00 PM, Saturday, March 19, 2022, at Ellerslie Road Baptist Church in Edmonton, Alberta.