Pat Barker

Vera “Pat” Pixton Barker, 95, graced our world at her birth on June 29, 1922 in Lehi, Utah, a daughter of Robert Carter and Vera Gardner Pixton and the second of their 3 children. She passed away peacefully after a brief illness on February 14th, 2018, surrounded by those she loved. We suspect that she danced her way out for a Valentine’s date with Bob.

Lovely, charming and always showing a sincere and great interest in others, Pat made everyone her friend. Some are convinced that she knew almost every Salt Laker of her generation and has by now attended most of their funerals!

Pat was refined and elegant in her style and dress, modeled extensively and spent technically two reigns as Utah’s Days of ’47 Queen in both 1943 and 1993. Wartime rationing prevented holding a parade for the first celebration, so when offered a second chance to ride in a shiny convertible fifty years later, she reassembled her court and reigned once more!

During her early 20’s, the excitement and adventure of New York City beckoned and in 1943, she followed that dream. Bright and capable, she was soon hired as an assistant to the president of CBS and spent the next three years learning and growing to love both the experience and the city. It was in the Big Apple that a handsome Utah Army Captain, on furlough from Fort Meade caught her eye at church one Sunday…and a love story began. He ultimately claimed her as his own, though not until after serving for three years in the European and Pacific theatres during WWII. After many letters and long months apart, on February 7, 1947, Pat finally married her sweetheart, Robert Barlow Barker in the Salt Lake LDS temple.

Bob (who died in 2004) and Pat set out on a glorious 58-year earthly adventure, raising their family in Holladay in the house that Bob designed. Their union was blessed with 3 children: Meredith (Stephen) Drechsel, R. Paul (Patricia), and Todd Whitney. Later came 8 beloved grandchildren: Taylor and Talmadge Anderson, Courteney (Tom) Hatch, Creighton (Melissa), Robert Pace (Valerie) and Desmond (Roxanne) Barker and Trevor and Benjamin Barker. These are now followed by yet another generation of great-grandchildren to adore. When Meredith remarried, the family grew in a quick leap. With the addition of a new son-in-law, our circle of love was greatly expanded by Stephen, his six children and eventually their spouses and offspring. Though Pat was a lady who REALLY liked jewelry and sparkled as a beauty queen, without question the brightest jewels in her crown and the source of her greatest pride was found in her family.

A woman of great faith, she was a lifelong and devoted member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, active in many ward and stake capacities as well as serving 21 years in the Jordan River Temple. She was a great support and always at Bob’s side as he held many church leadership positions. Pat also shared her time and talents in PTA, local political causes and community service. She especially enjoyed utilizing her sharp organizational and nursing aide skills acting as head of the Pink Ladies at Cottonwood Hospital. Her life was full.

Though it is with sadness now that we feel Pat’s absence from our lives, we remember the wise words of another dignified queen, HRH Elizabeth II, who said, “Grief is the price we pay for love”. We know that her love for us and ours for her is everlasting. She was, and is, an elect and remarkable lady.

Pat is survived by her immediate family, many adored cousins, nieces and nephews and her kid sister, Lois Park. She was predeceased by her husband, her brother, Brigadier General Allan Pixton, sister-in-law Vivian Pixton and brother-in-law William Park.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 20th, 2018, at 12:00 noon at the LDS chapel on 2080 E 5165 S, Holladay, Utah. A visitation will take place that morning prior to the services from 10:00 until 11:30. Interment will follow the services at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park, 3401 S Highland Drive, SLC.

The familiy would like to express appreciation for the caring and kind staff at IMC who skillfully and tenderly cared for Pat during her last days.