Nancy Barton

Nancy Jane (Carper) Barton, 89, of Salina, Kansas passed away peacefully on October 18, 2025. She was born to Clyde and Frances (Lyons) Carper on January 26, 1936, in Seymour, Illinois. Nancy grew up in Seymour and met her future husband, Tom Barton, at Chanute, Illinois Air Force Base on a triple date through her sister and a friend.
While working at the University of Illinois, Nancy was interviewed by Fox Movie Studio. It appeared in the newspaper after they had a meeting with her and did a screen shot test on campus. They were looking for people for the movie "A Certain Smile" Her boyfriend, Tom, didn't want her to go to Hollywood- so he proposed.
Nancy and Tom were married in 1958 at the Kellam Avenue Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. From 1958-1965 Nancy worked at City Service Gas Company in downtown Oklahoma City. They moved to Kansas in 1970, and she volunteered for Nieman Elementary School in Shawnee, Kansas and also served both as a Cub Scout Leader and Kindergarten Sunday School Teacher.
In 1985, the family moved back to Oklahoma City, where Nancy worked as a cook at Northridge Elementary for 19 years until her retirement in 2004. She was an exceptional homemaker, seamstress, and crafter, always keeping busy. Her family continues to cherish her many wonderful recipes.
Nancy is survived by her daughter, Melinda Salisbury of Bennington, Kansas; son, Brent Barton and wife Kimberley of Lawrence, Kansas; sister, Carolyn Fisher of Seymour, Illinois; brother, Ron Carper of Seymour, Illinois; and sister-in-law, Gay Brucker and husband Jim of Ft. Pierce, Florida; 5 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren, and numerous other family. Nancy was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Barton; parents Clyde and Frances Carper; sister, Neoma Ward; and son-in-law, Greg Salisbury.