Shelby Barker

Lyman Shelby Barker passed away peacefully in the early morning of Nov. 5, 2021, at his farm near Tiptonville, where he resided with his wife of 54 years, Ms. Linda Corkran Barker.
He was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Harris Barker of Tiptonville. His grandparents were the late Mr. and Mrs. William Arlie Barker of Tiptonville and the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Jackson Davis Sr. of Obion County.
With his wife, Linda, he raised four children, Dr. Julie Barker Holland of Muncie, Ind., Mr. Shelby Corkran Barker of Tiptonville, Ms. Mary Ellen Barker Cowles of Dyer County and Miss Anna L. Barker of Philadelphia. He also left his sons-in-law, Dr. Kenneth M. Holland and Mr. Mike Cowles and one daughter-in-law Ms. Misty Barker.
In addition to his children, he had seven grandchildren: Miss Emily Wilson, Miss Ellen Fowler, Miss Mia Fowler, Mr. Will Fowler, Miss Caton Barker, Mr. John Harris Barker and Mr. Jacob Barker; and one great-grandchild, Michael Knox Keeling. He had one brother, Mr. Sherrill Davis Barker and his sister-in-law, Ms. Sue Donnell Barker, of Tiptonville. He also left a large extended family to cherish his memory.
After graduating from Tiptonville High School Earthquake Class of 1962, Shelby studied and graduated from Murray State University (Class of May 1967) with an undergraduate B.S. degree in Animal Science in the Agricultural College. Once he graduated and moved back to Tiptonville, Shelby held many prominent leadership roles in county government including Director of Lake County DHS, Trustee, County Executive, County Commissioner and Road Commissioner.
Besides his professional career of service, Shelby was a lifelong member of Jones Chapel Church of Christ and an avid commercial fisherman on the Mississippi River. In the winters, he enjoyed trapping. In his spare time, Shelby loved to write short stories, and he kept a journal of his life at the farm in Bessie Bend.
To honor his memory a visitation took place on Sunday, Nov. 7, at the Dyersburg Funeral Home in Tiptonville, from 12:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. with a funeral that followed at 2:30 p.m.
Burial was in Antioch Cemetery in Obion County.
Honoring Shelby as pallbearers were Joey Moultrie, Tony Miller, Macky Wilson, Mike Cowles, John Harris Barker and Jacob Barker. Honorary pallbearers were Bobby Upson, J.L. Berry, Danny Scott, Robert Griffin, Ed Sumara, David Keefe, Robert Earl Hoffman, Robin Algee, Winston Whitson and Terry Petty.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to Jones Chapel Church of Christ or Tiptonville Public Library.
Online condolences may be made to the family at dyersburgfuneralhome.net.

Published 11.9.21