Obituary of Michael Keith Barker

Michael Keith Barker, also known as Mike, Mikey, Dad, and Grandpa, 60, lost his short courageous battle with lung cancer on December 23, 2015 with his family by his side. Our hearts are broken, but we know Mike will have no more pain and can now breathe again. Mike was born on September 10, 1955 in Mount Vernon, WA, and spent his childhood growing up in Mount Vernon, Montana, and Annapolis, Maryland. As a teenager, Mike returned to his birth state, Washington, attending Oak Harbor High School. In fact, that is where he met his wife Sandy. One day, they both had to ride the school bus because their rides were broken down. As Mike sat on the bus, Sandy noticed him and sat down beside him. He was pretty shy so they did not talk. But if you know Sandy...they eventually talked. Mike graduated from Oak Harbor High School in 1973. He also joined the U.S. Army in 1973 and was a Track Vehicle Mechanic, stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado. After three years of active duty, Mike moved back to Oak Harbor in September of 1976. As fate would have it, Sandy had also just moved back to Oak Harbor from eastern Oregon. So three and a half years after their fateful bus ride, Mike and Sandy met again at a Christmas party in December of 1976. Sandy walked into the party and noticed Mike, saying, "Hey, I remember you - welcome back Mike." Sandy then gave Mike a big hug. Since she knew how shy he was she figured he would have pushed away, but instead-- he hugged and "kissed" her back. And the rest, as they say, was history. Mike was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on August 8,1979. Mike married his best friend Sandy on April 4, 1980. Mike then went on to receive his BS in Industrial Technology from Western Washington University in 1981. After graduation Mike went to work at Kenworth in Kirkland, WA as a Design Engineer on the W900 Aerodyne Sleeper Cab Truck. He left Kenworth and went to work at Boeing in 1985. Mike was an NC drill operator and later on a facilities analyst. Mike and Sandy retired in 2013 so they could stay home and enjoy retirement life and their two grandbabies. Mike was a very kind man, he always put the other person first and then himself. He also had a dry, crazy sense of humor that made everyone laugh. Family was the most important thing to Mike. He was the best husband, father, son, brother, uncle and grandpa. Mike loved sports, watching the Seahawks, and was a great youth baseball and basketball coach when his kids were young. Mike also enjoyed golfing, working out at the gym, bowling, traveling, gambling, retirement and most of all - going to the zoo with his grandbabies. Mike was and always will be "The best grandpa ever." Mike is survived by his wife of 35 years, Sandy, two children, Adam Barker (wife Monica) and Keri Barker. Two grandchildren, Tyson age 4 and Brooklyn age 2. Mother, Jean Lindsay, three siblings, Terri Hobbie, AJ Smith and Kelli MacKenzie. He was preceded in death by his father Keith Barker, his father-in-law Carl Gotcher who always said Mike was "the son I never had", and sister Sherri Schieck-Anderson. Also his beloved dog Bart and cat Buster. Mike has joined the big party in the sky and is golfing everyday with Carl...may every hole be a hole-in-one or at least out drive the old fart. We love you Mike. You will be in our hearts forever. We will cherish all the memories. We will miss you everyday. Rest in Peace Mikey Honey. At Mike's request there will not be a public memorial service, however a celebration of his life is being planned for later this spring. An announcement will run prior to the event. Mike will be buried at Tahoma National Cemetery