Laveeda Mae Barker

1917 - 2010

Laveeda Mae Barker 1917 - 2010 Laveeda Barker, 92, a native of Kern County, passed away on Saturday, April 3, 2010, after a short illness. Laveeda was born in Fellows, CA, May 26, 1917, and lived nearly all of her life in Taft and Bakersfield. She was the daughter of Arthur and Nora (Klope) Nance. She was a 1935 graduate of Taft High School. She married William Huckaby in Taft in 1935 and had two sons, William and John. She married Ralph Barker in 1960. He had two children, Mary and Ralph, from a previous marriage. Laveeda had a busy life working in several jobs. She worked several years as a bookkeeper for Pioneer Mercantile in Taft and in Bakersfield. She retired after working for Bakersfield Glass for a number of years. After retirement, she took up painting, something she had been interested in since childhood. She excelled in oils and pastels and spent some years teaching art to others. She was particularly proud of paintings of President Reagan and U. S. Congressman Bill Thomas. Laveeda received a letter from Nancy Reagan thanking her for the painting. This letter along with a photo of the painting was framed and proudly displayed in her home. Laveeda was a member of Pacesetters, American Business Women's Association, the Republican Women's Association and the Art Club. She was named Woman of the Year in 2000 by both the Pacesetters and American Business Women's Association. More recently she was planning her 93rd birthday party. She had worked up an extensive list of friends and relatives whom she was preparing to invite. Laveeda is survived by her sons, Bill Huckaby, Carmichael, California, John Huckaby, Gig Harbor, Washington, Ralph Barker, Jr., New Mexico and her daughter, Mary Clyde, Tehachapi, her sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Frank Wilson, Taft; 7 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren; 2 nieces and many friends. Laveeda is preceded in death by her parents, her husbands and her brother, Homer. At her request, there will be no services. Greenlawn Southwest Mortuary www.bakersfield.com/obits