Margaret J Barber

Margaret’s story begins in Maine and ends in El Paso. She was 1 of 10 kids born to Helen and Earle Jordan, Jr. of Cape Elizabeth Maine. After her childhood, she moved to the Bahamas where her sister Anne Gagnon and brother-in-law Billy Gagnon lived. There she met her husband, Edwin Arnold Barber, Sr of West Point GA. Both Ed and Billy worked on different aspects of the missile defense work being done on the Eastern Test Range at the time.

After the Bahamas, she moved to West Point GA where 3 of her kids were born (Andrea, Eddie, and Renee). She lived there until Ed was hired by the FAA as an Air Traffic Control Specialist in Deming NM. Multiple memories were made in Deming with 3 more kids being born (Jackie, Joyce, and Lisa) along with many friends being made.

While Ed was working in Deming NM for the FAA, the opportunity to move to Guam, an island territory of the US in the Pacific Ocean, was accepted by Ed and family. A new level of memories were experienced along with the birth of her youngest child (Mike). Imagine 7 kids, sandy beaches, swimming in pools and the ocean, jungle hikes, and childhood milestones. Wow! While on Guam she got to work at Guam Memorial Hospital in the Obstetrics/Gynecology Department helping with newborn deliveries, fulfilling one of her dreams to help in the nursing field. While on Guam she had her mother come to live with her and help with her kids.

After the tour of duty on Guam was over, the family moved back to the mainland to the Sun City, El Paso TX. Here in El Paso all of her kids attended Eastwood High School. For 14 straight school years she had at least one kid at Eastwood High School. Due to her love of books and the desire to keep her mother supplied with reading material, she stumbled into a job that allowed her to get books at a discount. From that job, she got the opportunity to purchase The Bookery and moved the “brick and mortar” to the Lower Valley in the Mission Trail Trading Post. This is where she became an invaluable asset to many teachers, librarians, and educators from all the El Paso School districts, especially the Socorro Independent School District. At The Bookery, she entertained many school kids, teachers, librarians with book readings, storytelling, and puppet shows. Her impact on the education of many kids through the books she sold at a discount to the school districts is how she will be most remembered.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Hillcrest Funeral Home, 1060 N Carolina, El Paso TX. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Tuesday, Oct 20th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Burial will follow at Fort Bliss National Cemetery, limited to family.

Margaret is survived by daughter Andrea Barber Duke and spouse Shane Duke of La Porte TX, son Eddie Barber and spouse Jeana Gaylor Barber of Huntsville, AL, daughter Renee Barber Pena and spouse Steve Pena of El Paso, TX, daughter Jackie Barber Brown of El Paso, TX, daughter Joyce Barber of El Paso, TX, daughter Lisa Barber Miller and spouse Todd Miller of Alamogordo, NM, and son Mike Barber of El Paso, TX, 21 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, brother Teddy Jordan of Lewiston Maine, brother Leslie Jordan of Portland Oregon, sister Dotty Stoddard of Westbrook Maine, sister Helen Lewis of Portland Maine, sister Beverly Shorey of Portland Maine, and sister Barbara Benemerito of Westbrook Maine.