Marvin Duane Barker, 72, passed away May 22, 2021 at Diversicare of Larned.
He was born August 3, 1948 in Larned, the son of Fred H. and Norma L. Turpen Barker.
A lifetime area resident, he was of the Christian faith. He was a 1966 graduate of Larned High School and following graduation he attended North Central Kansas Area Vo-Tech at Beloit and later took classes at Barton County Community College and Dodge City Community College.
After graduating from NCKA Vo-Tech he went to work for Boyer, Hagadorn and Wright at Salina, doing drafting, surveying, and inspecting. He later moved back to Larned and worked at Larned State Hospital on the Fire Department. He worked at Larned Grain and Fertilizer as an assistant manager for a number of years. He had the opportunity to work in the oil field and worked for Skelly as a pipe liner. He later became district gauger for Getty and Texaco, for which he spent 22 ½ years. He also began a farming operation in tough economic times and made it work. In 2011 he quit farming and sold his equipment and invested in a liquor store which he and Brenda ran for a number of years.
He served in the United States Army Reserve from 1968 thru 1974 and became a drill sergeant, receiving the rank of Master Sergeant.
Duane was raised to a Master Mason on May 20, 1983 and has been a mason for 38 years, a Scottish Rite Mason for 37, and was a current member of the Walnut City Lodge #215 in Rush Center. He has been an ISIS Shriner for 36 years and Potentate of the ISIS temple, 2014. He is twice past master. He is a member of the Sunflower, Russell, and Fort Hays Shrine Club. He was past president of the Fort Hays Shrine Club, two-time past president of Sunflower Shrine Club, past treasurer of the Sunflower Shrine Club, past president of the ISIS Grid Iron Club, and was also a member of Topless Travelers, and ROJ.
Duane spent 20+ years as a volunteer for Larned EMS and Larned Fire Rescue. He became Rescue Squad leader and Captain on the fire department.
On March 9th, 1994 he married Brenda Fairchild at Larned; she survives.
Other survivors include: his mother, Norma Barker, Larned; three sons, James Barker, Kanapolis, Gary (Brandi) Nash Jr, Salina, and Michael Nash, Wassila, Alaska; three daughters, Melissa Barker, Great Bend, Sara Barker Lewis, Great Bend, Michelle (Joe) Koch, Larned; a brother, Robert Barker, Larned; a sister, Diana L. Selfridge, Hanston; fifteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, Fred H. Barker.
Funeral service will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at Beckwith Mortuary Chapel, with Pastors David Spare and Tonya Andrews presiding. Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 25, 2021 at Beckwith Mortuary. Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery with Masonic and Military Graveside Rites.
Memorials may be given to Shriner’s Hospitals for Children in care of Beckwith Mortuary, PO Box 477, Larned, Kansas 67550.