Iva "Deanie" Barker

Iva "Deanie" Barker, 78, of Walla Walla and formerly of La Grande died May 22 at a care center. The funeral will begin at 10 a.m. at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in La Grande.

Mrs. Barker was born October 14, 1927 to Lloyd and Nora Erlandson in Kansas City, Missouri. She married Roger Barker of Yakima, Washington and graduated with honors from Central Washington University. She earned a master's degree from Eastern Oregon State College, and was a passionate educator who taught for over 30 years, most recently in La Grande where she spear headed the School on Wheels program that allowed middle-school students to travel to Europe and the eastern United States. She taught all ages in Portland, Vale and La Grande, and was a member of the Oregon Education Association and the Democratic Party. She had many talents, including drawing and painting, crochet and needlework and a beautiful singing voice. After retiring she worked as the secretary at St. Peter's Church.

Survivors include children, Rodney Lloyd Barker of Guam and Bonnie Joy Barker of Bellingham, Washington and a foster son, Mark Brinton of Vale. Her husband, a son, John Edwin Barker and a foster son, Daniel Brinton, all died earlier.