Berkley Elwood ‘Berk’ Barker, 73, former mayor of Westport and owner of the Hungry Whale Store in Westport, died Saturday morning, September 5, 2015 at his home in Westport.
Berk was born on October 29, 1941 in Portland, Oregon to Berkley Elwood Jr. and Eloise Elizabeth (Cupp) Barker. He was raised in the Portland area and graduated from Gresham High School in 1959. He then joined the Navy and was honorably discharged in 1962. Berk returned to Portland and went to work for Fred Meyer and worked his way up to manager.
In 1963, Berk married Delores Cule. They later divorced in 1974.
Berk was the owner of the “Headless Horseman Tavern’ in Oregon City for a while. Berk moved to Tanglewild, WA where he went to work for Food Town Grocery and while there he met Kathleen L. VanEmbden. On August 19, 1987, Berk married Kathi and they moved to Westport, WA and bought the Hungry Whale Store. Kathi resides at the family home.
Berk loved living in Westport and immediately was active in the Grayland Chamber of Commerce, including board member for over 20 years including being chairman a few times. He was also on the Grays Harbor Tourism Advisory Board and the Grays Harbor Economic Development Council. He took over as Mayor of Westport in 1998 and was elected mayor later that year.
Berk was a member of the Westport VFW Post 3057. He loved fishing, old cars, shooting sports, family and his grandkids. He was also involved in many of the festivals in the area including, Seafood and Crab festivals.
Some of his favorite past times were going on fishing trips with his best buddies Mark Cunningham and Brother-in-law Jim Ebert and believe it, what happened on the boat stayed on the boat!
He loved his Family and it was very important to him to have everyone together during the Holiday's.
Family time also meant just puttering in the yard with his Wife Kathi or going on long drives with no destination.
Berk is survived by his wife of 26 years, Kathi Barker of Westport; daughters: Regina Barker of Astoria, OR, Neva Barker of Portland, OR and Lisa Barker of Olympia; step-son: Erik and wife Mariah VanEmbden of Kauai, HI and a step-daughter: Kristen VanEmbden of Lynnwood, WA; Eight grandchildren, one great grandchild and one great great grandchild. Berk was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Barker and a sister Beverly Ebert.
A celebration of Berk’s life will take place on Monday, September 28th at 1:00 PM in the South Beach Christian Center, Grayland, WA.
The Family suggests that donations be made to the South Beach Soccer Assoc. and the American Cancer Society, 1313 Broadway, No. 100, Tacoma, WA 98402.
A message of condolence or of a memory can be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com
Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen.
Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
US Navy
VFW
The insignias listed here may be subject to copyright and / or trademarked. Those copyrights and trademarks are owned by the respective organizations. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Berkley Barker Iii, please visit our flower store.
Berk was born on October 29, 1941 in Portland, Oregon to Berkley Elwood Jr. and Eloise Elizabeth (Cupp) Barker. He was raised in the Portland area and graduated from Gresham High School in 1959. He then joined the Navy and was honorably discharged in 1962. Berk returned to Portland and went to work for Fred Meyer and worked his way up to manager.
In 1963, Berk married Delores Cule. They later divorced in 1974.
Berk was the owner of the “Headless Horseman Tavern’ in Oregon City for a while. Berk moved to Tanglewild, WA where he went to work for Food Town Grocery and while there he met Kathleen L. VanEmbden. On August 19, 1987, Berk married Kathi and they moved to Westport, WA and bought the Hungry Whale Store. Kathi resides at the family home.
Berk loved living in Westport and immediately was active in the Grayland Chamber of Commerce, including board member for over 20 years including being chairman a few times. He was also on the Grays Harbor Tourism Advisory Board and the Grays Harbor Economic Development Council. He took over as Mayor of Westport in 1998 and was elected mayor later that year.
Berk was a member of the Westport VFW Post 3057. He loved fishing, old cars, shooting sports, family and his grandkids. He was also involved in many of the festivals in the area including, Seafood and Crab festivals.
Some of his favorite past times were going on fishing trips with his best buddies Mark Cunningham and Brother-in-law Jim Ebert and believe it, what happened on the boat stayed on the boat!
He loved his Family and it was very important to him to have everyone together during the Holiday's.
Family time also meant just puttering in the yard with his Wife Kathi or going on long drives with no destination.
Berk is survived by his wife of 26 years, Kathi Barker of Westport; daughters: Regina Barker of Astoria, OR, Neva Barker of Portland, OR and Lisa Barker of Olympia; step-son: Erik and wife Mariah VanEmbden of Kauai, HI and a step-daughter: Kristen VanEmbden of Lynnwood, WA; Eight grandchildren, one great grandchild and one great great grandchild. Berk was preceded in death by a brother, Richard Barker and a sister Beverly Ebert.
A celebration of Berk’s life will take place on Monday, September 28th at 1:00 PM in the South Beach Christian Center, Grayland, WA.
The Family suggests that donations be made to the South Beach Soccer Assoc. and the American Cancer Society, 1313 Broadway, No. 100, Tacoma, WA 98402.
A message of condolence or of a memory can be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com
Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Twibell’s Fern Hill Funeral Home in Aberdeen.
Lord Strathcona's Horse (Royal Canadians)
US Navy
VFW
The insignias listed here may be subject to copyright and / or trademarked. Those copyrights and trademarks are owned by the respective organizations. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Berkley Barker Iii, please visit our flower store.
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