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Obituary for H. Heaton Barker
Barker, H. Heaton, age 91 of Littleton. Heaton passed away peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, Oct. 18. 2014. Heaven must have surely rejoiced to greet this valiant, beloved son of God as he returned home. He left behind his widow, Emma Cargill Barker (Emmy), as well as four sons, Kent Barker (Diane); Bruce Barker (Babzanne); Reed Barker; and Paul Barker (Sue); one daughter, Cheryl Kaye Barker; two stepdaughters, Cheryl Kovacic (Larry); and Kerrie Hitchcock (Tim); 26 grandchildren; and 46 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Henry Barker III and Christena Selina Heaton Barker; his first wife Delcie Eleanor Nobes Barker; an infant daughter, Deborah Lynn Barker; an infant son, David Heaton Barker; and two brothers, Lynn Barker and Dee Barker. Brothers John Dell Barker (Louise) and Robert Barker (Lois) also survive. Born on Dec. 6, 1922 in Salt Lake City, Utah, Heaton was named for his father who always went by the name Henry. Because of this Heaton was never called Henry and always went by his middle name, Heaton. He grew up as a happy child in a happy family in the Riverside area of Salt Lake City. This love of family was a defining feature in his life. Every member of the large, extended family knew how much Grandpa loved them. He never failed to remember each grandchild and ask them and their parents about the details of their lives. His happiness at visiting with them never lessened. Heaton was talented and had many interests. As a child, he learned to play the bugle and this brought him much happiness as he grew up, playing the bugle as the flag was raised and lowered each day at his elementary school. Later he won first place in a national drum and bugle corps junior competition. In high school he performed at rodeos and parades around the state. After earning the Eagle Scout badge as a teenager, he remained active in Scouting throughout his life. As an adult he received the District Order of Merit, Scouting’s highest district honor for adults. Swimming was also a life-long interest. He began swimming competitively in high school and served as captain of the swim team at the University of Utah. After graduating from college with a degree in electrical engineering, he entered the United States Navy as an officer doing radar work during World War II. Upon the war’s end, he returned home for a short time before serving a full-time mission to Canada for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. While there he met a beautiful young convert named Delcie Nobes, who would soon move to Salt Lake City to be closer to the body of the Church. After his mission they became reacquainted, began dating and were married in the Salt Lake Temple on Aug. 16, 1950. After Heaton and Delcie were married, Heaton returned to the University of Utah to earn a master’s degree in electrical engineering, and then began a career with Hughes Aircraft. The growing family lived in California; Washington state; and Ontario, Canada before settling in Torrance, California. After fifteen years there, they relocated to Littleton, where he had received a job offer from Martin Marietta. As the family grew, they enjoyed many happy times in the out-of-doors, camping and hiking together. They spent many vacations visiting relatives in California and Utah, and also had wonderful memories of riding the train one summer all the way from California to Eastern Canada to visit their Canadian relatives. It was while they lived in Torrance that Heaton began the tradition of making homemade ice cream every first Sunday of the month. As the children grew up, married, and had children of their own, this tradition continued and continues to this day, with the family gathering together as the sons now take turns preparing the ice cream the first Sunday of almost every month. In both Torrance and Littleton, Heaton had begun doing income tax preparation to supplement the family’s income. After five years working in the aerospace program at Martin, he decided to leave and start his own business. After more than 25 years in the engineering business, he spent the next 30 years doing income tax preparation, accounting, and financial planning. His reputation as an impeccably honest income tax preparer, who truly cared about and enjoyed working with his clients, served him well. At the age of 80 years old he finally retired. Although a graduate of the University of Utah, all of Heaton’s children graduated from Brigham Young University and so he became a fan, spending many happy hours with family members watching BYU football and basketball games. In his later years watching old westerns on TV also became a favorite pastime. Delcie, his sweetheart and wife of 46 years, passed away at the young age of 71 in August of 1996. They had shared a lifetime of laughter, love and service to family and others and her passing left a great void in his heart. Heaton later found happiness again with Emmy Caswell Cargill, whom he married on June 30, 2001. Emmy stayed faithfully by his side during several illnesses, including a heart attack and a severe bout with meningitis, and the two enjoyed attending and hosting family events together, and also shared many happy weekends at Emmy’s cabin in Granby. No longer camping in tents, Heaton still loved being in the mountains and Emmy shared this love. Besides his family, Heaton’s other great love was found in service to his church. A life-long member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served a two-year mission to the Eastern Canadian Mission; was in two branch presidencies and two bishoprics before serving as Bishop in California; and also served many years as Scoutmaster, stake financial clerk and ward membership clerk for 18 years. He served at the recommend desk at the Denver Temple for nine years where he had the pleasure of greeting all those who came to the temple during his shift, and was a home teacher for almost seventy years, watching over three or more families in his church congregation with monthly visits. Many times when his children and grandchildren would leave after a visit he would take their hand and say “Come again.” The love in those words spoke volumes, and oh how we will miss our father, our grandfather, beloved husband, our patriarch. How grateful we are for the lessons he taught us and the wonderful way he shared his life with us. No family could be more blessed.
Cemetery: Interment following the service with military honors.
