Kathaleen Barker

Kathaleen Batchelor Barker, born June 24, 1915, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, at age 99. Born in Muscadine, Ala., the oldest child of Lula Ann and Leonard Batchelor, she grew up near Haleyville, Ala., where she met her future husband and lifelong sweetheart, Horace N. Barker, when both were toddlers. Kathaleen always loved to travel and was ever ready to go on to the next adventure. When she and Horace retired from Hiwassee College in 1980 they began competing in race walking and won medals in the Senior Olympics. She was three times Tennessee state champion in her age group and twice finished in the top five nationally. A lover of children and believer in the importance of learning, she taught first and third grades at Madisonville Elementary School for many years until retiring in 1965 to help care for her mother. Her own elementary education near Haleyville required her to walk two miles to and from school each day, with time off during the harvesting season to pick cotton. She worked in a grocery store during high school and her first three years of college. She completed her BA degree when she was 38, the year her youngest child started first grade. As the wife of Hiwassee College president Dr. Horace N. Barker, she was "first lady" of Hiwassee from 1955 until 1980. During this time she was also active in church and community, including being president of Buckner Memorial United Methodist Women and the Madisonville Women's Club and leader of a Girl Scout Troop. From 1944-1947 she was a young mother while husband Horace was pastor of First United Methodist Church of Madisonville. Preceded in death by husband of 68 years and dear friend, Horace N. Barker Sr., parents, Leonard and Lula Ann Batchelor. Survived by son, Horace N. Barker Jr. of Chattanooga; and daughter, Kathaleen Ann Barker; granddaughters, Juana R. Barker and Rose Barker; great-grandsons, Gabriel Barker, age 9, and Alexito Martinez-Barker, age 3, all of Knoxville. Funeral 3 p.m. Sunday, Hiwassee Performing Arts Center, Hiwassee College Campus. Interment Hiwassee College Community Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please send your contribution in her memory to the Hiwassee College Scholarship Fund or to the charity of your choice. Visitation will be held 5- 7 p.m. today, Aug. 2, at Biereley-Hale Funeral Home in Madisonville.