Dennis Lee Barker

Dennis Lee Barker was born December 10, 1937 in Harper, Kansas, to John Edward Barker and Clara Myrtle (Howell) Barker, the fifth of seven children.  Dennis was raised on the family farm two miles south of Attica and grew up custom harvesting in the summers with his family, traveling as far north as Montana.  He attended Star Valley Country School as a young boy, where he won the Harper County Spelling Bee in the 8th grade.  Dennis graduated from Attica High School in May of 1955, and was awarded the certificate for “Most Days Absent”, but was not present to receive his award.

On September 15, 1955, Dennis married Judy Janell Leslie in Cherokee, Oklahoma.  They welcomed four children in five years: Scotty, Casey, Tammy, and Jackie.  During their early married life, Dennis worked in the oil fields and continued to help his father with farming.  His own full-time wheat farming and cattle ranching career began in 1964 on a rented acreage southwest of Attica that he and Judy affectionately named “The Ponderosa.”  The family lived on the property in a home with an outhouse and no running water until they bought their first home in 1971.  Farming and ranching proved to be prosperous in those days, and in 1982 the couple built their Forever Home - a custom log house they built on the property that Dennis was raised on just south of Attica, where he continued to reside until his passing.

Dennis was quite a jokester and also loved nicknaming nearly everyone he knew.  If he gave you a nickname, it was a sure sign he liked you, and even better if he made up a little tune to go along with it.  Fall Friday nights often found Dennis in the top corner of the local football bleachers.  He enjoyed watching several generations of his offspring on the gridiron over the years, where he could invariably be heard yelling “Get in the backfield!”

Dennis had a competitive spirit from a young age.  He especially loved a good game of 5-man Pitch, which he called Razzle-Dazzle.  He always had time “for one game” - that “one game,” which every member of his family knew, wouldn’t actually end until he won.  In his later years, he enjoyed being a line judge for the annual family Easter volleyball games, even though his eyesight was failing and a few of his calls were questionable at best - depending on which granddaughter you asked.

Dennis was a faithful life-long member of the Faith Baptist Church of Attica, where he also taught Sunday School for many years, and where he watched so many of his children and grandchildren follow in his footsteps and accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.  He was devout in his faith in the Lord until his very last breath, and he had no doubt that he would be with his Lord in Heaven when he was called home.

Dennis received that call home in the early morning hours of October 12, 2026, surrounded by loved ones.  He is survived by his loving wife of 71 years, Judy; son Casey Barker and his wife Sherri of Oxford; daughter Tammy McDaniel of Attica; daughter Jackie and her husband Bobby Bary of Attica; and daughter-in-law Jyl Barker of Andover; as well as 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

Dennis is preceded in death by son Dennis Scott “Scotty” Barker; son-in-law Johnny McDaniel, and great-granddaughters Erin Farley and Brynli Teeters.

Funeral Service was 10:30 a.m. Friday, October 16, 2026 at Faith Baptist Church in Attica, Kansas with Pastor Jason Byars officiating.  Burial followed at the Attica Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made payable to Faith Baptist Church or Attica Senior Center and can be sent in care of Prairie Rose Funeral Homes, 613 W 14th St ~ Harper, Kansas  67058

Online condolences can be left at www.prairierosefuneralhomes.com