Dorothy M. Barker

Dorothy Mae Barker, 92, of Zion, IL, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, December 10, 2024.

Dorothy was born in Red Bay, AL in 1932, where she grew up with three brothers and one sister. She met her wonderful husband Carlton at the age of 15 and fell in love at first sight. They married on August 5, 1950 and resided in Red Bay, AL, where they had their first of three beautiful daughters. The family later moved to Northern Illinois where they had their two younger daughters. Dorothy found work at the Zion Candy Factory and Zion Curtain Factory where she worked until retirement. She became a homemaker and babysat several children throughout the years. Her greatest joy was being home to take care of her seven beautiful grandchildren. Dorothy was a devoted Christian and Godly woman who believed in helping others and serving her church and the Lord. She was a faithful parishioner of First Baptist Church in Winthrop Harbor where she was a member of the choir and loved working with the babies in the church nursery at both First and Second Baptist Church. Dorothy loved traveling with Carlton and visiting family in the south. She loved her quilting and going out with her sister-in-law Shirley and her best friends going out to eat and visiting. She had numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews that cherished their time with her as well. Dorothy was loved beyond words. She was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who will be missed beyond measure.

Dorothy is survived by her children, Linda (Pat) Talley of Vina, AL, Teresa (Nick) Dowdal of Beach Park, IL and Brenda Kingfisher of Kenosha, WI; grandchildren, Michelle Loy, Traci (Daniel) Guzman, Sonya Corcoran, Nick (Stacy) Dowdal, Lindsay (Quinn) Haley, Steven (Amanda) Kingfisher, Aaron Kingfisher; fifteen great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and great-great nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband Henry Carlton Barker; her parents, Charlie R. and Clide M. Tate; Sister Eula M. Russell; brothers, Claude D. Tate, William T. (Bud) Tate and Billy Jack Tate; grandson-in-law Corey M. Loy and Bradley M. Corcoran.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2024 at Congdon Funeral Home, 3012 Sheridan Rd., Zion, IL, from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. A funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Mt. Olivet Memorial Park, Zion. Please visit the online guest book at www.congdonfuneralhome.com.